Stockwinners Market Radar for November 21, 2019 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:18 EST Fly Intel: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: Ooma (OOMA) up 16.9%... i3 Verticals (IIIV) up 12.1%... Nordstrom (JWN) up 8.2%... Shoe Carnival (SCVL) up 8.2%... Splunk (SPLK) up 5.3%... The Gap (GPS) up 1.5%... Ross Stores (ROST) up 1.1%. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Pure Storage (PSTG) down 22.5%... Williams-Sonoma (WSM) down 5.1%... PennantPark (PNNT) down 1.5%... Enanta Pharma (ENTA) down 1.4%... Intuit (INTU) down 0.8%.

19:03 EST ICE announces launch of Bakkt Bitcoin Cash Settled Monthly Futures contract - Intercontinental Exchange announced the launch of the Bakkt Bitcoin Cash Settled Monthly Futures contract. The new contract will be listed on ICE Futures Singapore and cleared by ICE Clear Singapore, which are regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Bakkt Bitcoin Cash Settled Monthly Futures will be settled against data from the physically delivered Bakkt Bitcoin Monthly Futures contract, the first fully regulated futures market for digital assets.

18:28 EST Ottawa Bancorp approves stock buyback of 317,307 shares - Ottawa Bancorp announced that it has approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of 317,307 shares, representing 10% of the company's outstanding shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2019, the company had repurchased a total of 327,089 shares of its common stock at an average price of $13.96 per share as part of its previously approved stock repurchase program, which will expire on November 29, 2019. Repurchases will be conducted through open market purchases, which may include purchases under a trading plan adopted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1, or through privately negotiated transactions. Repurchases will be made from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors. In addition, the company announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 6c per share, payable on or about December 18, 2019, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 4, 2019.

17:50 EST L Brands cancels Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for 'more current platforms' - The CFO of L Brands, Stuart Burgdoerfer confirmed, while speaking on the company's earnings conference call, that the company has cancelled the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, amid a retreat from certain marketing formats The CFO said: "With that said, it was a very important part of the brand building of this business and was an important aspect of the brand and a remarkable marketing achievement. And with that said, we're figuring out how to advance the positioning of the brand and best communicate that to customer. L Brands management noted that it will "be communicating with customers, through lots of vehicles, including social media and various more current platforms, if you will."

17:41 EST First US Bancshares raises quarterly dividend to 3c from 2c per share - The dividend is payable on January 2, 2020 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 12, 2019.

17:30 EST Senseonics publishes positive performance of Eversense across sensor insertions - Senseonics announced the publication of an assessment of the performance of multiple sequential cycles of Eversense 90 and 180-day CGM System use in the peer reviewed scientific journal Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics. This real-world data of 945 adult users in the home-setting demonstrated that the performance of the sensor over four sensor cycles is stable and does not decrease over time. In addition, there was no degradation of patient glucose outcomes over the four sensor cycles.

17:16 EST Huntington Ingalls awarded $136M Navy contract modification - Huntington Ingalls was awarded a $136M cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrades and modernization efforts on the USS Columbus Engineered Overhaul. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by November 2020. FY20 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $136M will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding is the contracting activity.

17:03 EST Cheniere Energy gets FERC approval for Corpus Christi expansion project - Cheniere Energy announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, to site, construct, and operate the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project. Corpus Christi Stage 3 is being developed for up to seven midscale liquefaction trains with total aggregate expected nominal production capacity of approximately 10M tonnes per annum of LNG. The Corpus Christi Stage 3 site is adjacent to the three liquefaction Trains operating or under construction at the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project, and together the two projects are expected to have a total nominal production capacity of approximately 25 mtpa.

16:56 EST NextDecade receives FERC order for Rio Grande LNG project - NextDecade Corporation announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, has issued an order authorizing the siting, construction and operation of NextDecade's proposed Rio Grande liquefied natural gas, or LNG, export facility in Brownsville, Texas and the associated Rio Bravo Pipeline. NextDecade currently anticipates finalizing important commercial milestones during Q4 of 2019 and Q1 of 2020, prior to an anticipated final investment decision in Q1 of 2020. Construction of the facility is expected to commence shortly after FID with commercial operations slated for late 2023.

16:50 EST Nordstrom up 9% to $37.50 after Q3 results, FY19 guidance

16:40 EST Williams-Sonoma sees FY19 CapEx $200M-$220M - For FY19 sees: Net 25 store closures for a total store count of 601 by the end of FY19... Depreciation and Amortization: $185M-$195M; Return to Shareholders: quarterly cash dividend of 48c per share and continued share buybacks under the multi-year share repurchase authorization of approximately $600M.

16:33 EST Avista reaches partial multiparty settlement in Washington general rate case - Avista and certain parties to the company's electric and natural gas general rate cases have reached a partial settlement agreement that has been submitted to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for its consideration. If approved, new rates would take effect April 1, 2020. The partial settlement agreement includes, among other things, agreement among all parties on the electric revenue increase and cost of capital as well as electric and natural gas rate spread and rate design. All parties, with the exception of the Public Counsel Unit of the Washington Office of Attorney General, agree on the natural gas revenue increase. If approved, the partial settlement agreement is designed to increase annual billed electric revenues by $28.5 million, or 5.4%, and annual natural gas billed revenues by $8.0 million, or 5.2%, effective April 1, 2020. The partial settlement revenue increases are based on a 9.4% return on equity with a common equity ratio of 48.5% and a rate of return on rate base of 7.21%. The other remaining issues to be resolved in the cases include the Energy Recovery Mechanism deferral and the extension of the electric and natural gas decoupling mechanisms. The parties have agreed that the final ERM rebate determined by the Commission, after it resolves the remaining ERM contested issues, should be returned to customers over a two-year period. The ERM rebate is approximately $34.0 million.

16:31 EST Gap up 6.7% at $16.45 after Q3 earnings beat and affirmed FY19 guidance

16:27 EST Gap expects to close 15 company-operated stores vs. 30 prior forecast - The company now expects to close about 15 company-operated stores, net of openings and repositions in fiscal year 2019. This guidance also includes about 130 closures related to the Gap brand fleet restructuring, the majority of which are expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. The company continues to expect store openings to be focused on Old Navy, Athleta and Gap China locations.

16:25 EST Gap reports Q3 gross margin down 70bps from last year at 39.0% - Reports Q3 SSS at Old Navy Global down 4%, Gap Global down 7%, Banana Republic Global down 3%.

16:23 EST Brown-Forman increases quarterly cash dividend 5% to 17.43c per share - Brown-Forman announced that its board increased its quarterly cash dividend on its Class A and Class B common stock by 5% to 17.43c per share from the prior quarter's 16.6c per share. As a result, the indicated annual cash dividend will rise from 66.4c per share to 69.72c per share. Stockholders of record on December 5 will receive the cash dividend on January 2, 2020.

16:21 EST NCR Corp. VP Adrian Button sells over $274K in company shares - NCR Corp. VP Adrian Button disclosed in a filing that he had sold 8,238 shares of company stock at an average price of $33.29 per share on November 20. The total transaction value of the purchase/sale was $$274,243.

16:17 EST Yum! Brands authorizes up to $2B in share repurchases - Yum! Brands said its board of directors approved a new share repurchase authorization which authorizes repurchases of up to $2B in shares of common stock through June 30, 2021. The prior outstanding authorization approved in August 2018 expires on December 31, 2019.

16:16 EST Olin VP John McIntosh sells 9,000 shares of company stock - Olin VP John McIntosh disclosed in a filing that he had sold 9,000 shares of company stock at an average price of $16.86 per share on November 20. The total transaction value of the sale was $151,770.

16:15 EST Pure Storage down 18% to $16.30 after Q4, FY20 revenue guidance trails estimates

16:11 EST Shoe Carnival backs FY19 SSS view of up low single digits

16:09 EST ICF International awarded $98M child welfare capacity contract by HHS - ICF has been awarded a re-compete contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to deliver child welfare capacity building services. The $98M agreement, awarded in Q3, is with the Administration for Children and Families Children's Bureau. It has a term of five years including one base and four option years. ICF will work with the Children's Bureau to deliver a comprehensive array of training, technical support and implementation services to state and territorial child welfare agencies. also help these jurisdictions deepen their understanding of organizational performance

16:09 EST Pure Storage names Kevan Krysler as new CFO - Pure Storage (PSTG) announced that Kevan Krysler will join the company as CFO in early December, reporting to Chairman and CEO, Charles Giancarlo. Krysler joins Pure from VMware (VMW), where he has served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to VMware, he was a partner with KPMG, where he served both multi-national and emerging software and technology companies.

16:07 EST Progenics appoints David Mims interim CEO - Progenics Pharmaceuticals announced its board appointed David Mims as interim CEO. Mims, a member of Progenics' board, will assume the leadership of the executive team while the board conducts a search to identify a permanent CEO.

15:44 EST El Paso Electric, IIF reach agreement in principle with PUCT on proposed deal - El Paso Electric and the Infrastructure Investments Fund announced that they have reached an agreement in principle with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or PUCT, staff and most intervenors regarding IIF's proposed acquisition of EPE. In response to this development, the PUCT issued an order delaying the hearing on the merits in order to assist in reaching a unanimous settlement. The parties will continue discussions and will provide an update on the status of settlement at the PUCT's regularly scheduled meeting on December 13. EPE and IIF issued the following statement: "We appreciate the constructive dialogue we have had with the PUCT Staff and intervenors. This agreement in principle is an important milestone toward completing IIF's acquisition of EPE and demonstrates our shared belief that this transaction creates meaningful benefits for EPE and EPE's communities, customers, and employees. We look forward to submitting the settlement agreement for review and approval to the PUCT." As previously announced, the proposed transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2020, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

15:38 EST SunTrust co-COO Chancy sells 15,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, SunTrust vice chairman and co-COO Mark A. Chancy disclosed the sale of 15,000 common shares of the company at a price of $70.1187 per share on November 21.

15:03 EST BeiGene treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma granted orphan status - BeiGene's treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma was granted orphan status by the FDA, according to a post to the agency's website. Reference Link

14:55 EST Marsh & McLennan authorizes renewal of share repurchase authorization - Marsh & McLennan announced that its board of directors authorized the renewal of the company's share repurchase program, allowing management to buy back up to $2.5B of the company's common stock going forward, which supersedes any prior authorization.

14:24 EST Sage Therapeutics CEO says MDD study readout 'not binary in our minds' - Sage Therapeutics CEO Jeff Jonas said the upcoming data readout from the company's Phase 3 trial of adult subjects with major depressive disorder is "not binary in our minds" and is part of a larger collection of data about SAGE-217, its proposed MDD treatment. Sage's Jonas made the comment during an interview on CNBC.

14:02 EST Houston American Energy announces plans for 2nd San Andres well in Yoakum County - Houston American Energy announced plans for drilling the Frost #2-H well, the company's second San Andres well in Yoakum County. The operator has set a drilling date for late December 2019, pending rig availability. The well's planned total depth is approximately 5500 feet with a 5,000-foot horizontal leg. Houston American Energy holds a 12.5% working interest in the subject 650 gross acre prospect. The initial Yoakum County well, Frost #1-H, is commercially productive. Additionally, the company announced that drilling activities on the Daisy-1 and Venus-1 wells in Colombia are on track with both wells anticipated to be drilled and completed in 2019.

13:34 EST Sun Life names Paula Bartgis Chief Information Officer - Sun Life U.S. announced that it has named Paula Bartgis as senior VP and Chief Information Officer. Bartgis will have responsibility for the company's Information Technology operations, focused on delivering outstanding client experiences through innovative digital, data and analytic tools and practices. Bartgis joins Sun Life from Voya Financial where she most recently served as senior vice president of its Enterprise Project Management Office.

13:30 EST AstraZeneca confirms FDA approval of lymphocytic leukemia treatment - AstraZeneca announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Calquence for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit said: "With over 20,000 new cases anticipated this year in the US alone, today's approval of Calquence provides new hope for patients with one of the most common types of adult leukaemia, offering outstanding efficacy and a favourable tolerability profile. The chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patient population is known to face multiple comorbidities, and tolerability is a critical factor in their treatment."

13:21 EST CDC raises estimate of lung injury cases associated with vaping to 2,290 - The CDC announced the updated number of confirmed and probable lung injury cases and deaths associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. As of November 20, 2,290 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury have been reported to CDC from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 2 U.S. territories. Forty-seven deaths have been confirmed in 25 states and the District of Columbia as of November 20, including in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. The Fly notes that Altria (MO) has a 35% stake in Juul. Other publicly traded companies in the tobacco space include British American Tobacco (BTI), Imperial Brands (IMBBY) and Philip Morris (PM). Reference Link

12:18 EST Amazon introduces Dash Smart Shelf - Amazon has introduced the Dash Smart Shelf, a scale that senses the weight of items and determines when you're running low. Then, it places a reorder that arrives right on time. The built-in battery lets you unplug, so you can use it in spaces with or without an outlet. You have the freedom to select a different product or brand at any time, the company said. The device comes in three sizes. Reference Link

12:16 EST Netflix, CJ ENM/Studio Dragon announce long-term partnership - CJ ENM, a Korean media entertainment company, and its subsidiary Studio Dragon, a Korean production studio, and Netflix have entered into a strategic partnership, highlighted by a multi-year content production and distribution agreement. As part of a three-year partnership beginning in 2020, Studio Dragon and its stellar roster of creators will produce original series that will be available to Netflix members all over the world. Netflix will also receive distribution rights to other select Studio Dragon titles. This arrangement extends and deepens the relationship between CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, and Netflix, which has already been streaming Studio Dragon hits like Stranger, Mr. Sunshine, Memories of Alhambra, Romance is A Bonus Book, and Arthdal Chronicles. "CJ ENM and Studio Dragon represent the gold standard in Korean entertainment and we are excited and honored to work with them. This partnership with CJ ENM and Studio Dragon demonstrates our commitment to Korean entertainment and allows us to bring more top-tier Korean drama to Netflix members in Korea and all over the world," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix.

12:00 EST Myovant Sciences falls -11.4% - Myovant Sciences is down -11.4%, or -$1.46 to $11.39.

12:00 EST Cubic falls -18.8% - Cubic is down -18.8%, or -$13.81 to $59.80.

12:00 EST Aurora Cannabis rises 16.7% - Aurora Cannabis is up 16.7%, or 44c to $3.08.

11:59 EST Jack in the Box says will stick to giving annual guidance vs. q/q comp guidance - Says plans to focus on long-term guidance, annual guidance vs. giving quarter to quarter guidance or quarterly cadence. Comments taken from the Q4 earnings conference call.

11:26 EST Twitter making hiding of replies available to all users globally - In a blog post earlier, Twitter's Director of Product Management, Suzanne Xie, stated: "Everyone should feel safe and comfortable while talking on Twitter. To make this happen, we need to change how conversations work on our service. Currently, repliers can shift the topic or tone of a discussion and derail what you and your audience want to talk about. To give you more control over the conversations you start, we tested the option for you to hide replies to your Tweets. We learned that the feature is a useful new way to manage your conversations. Today, we're making this available to everyone globally." Reference Link

11:06 EST Medtronic reports FDA approval of IN.PACT AV drug-coated balloon - Medtronic announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the IN.PACT AV drug-coated balloon, a paclitaxel-coated balloon indicated for the treatment of failing arteriovenous access in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis. "The FDA approval of IN.PACT AV DCB marks a significant step forward for paclitaxel-coated devices. Importantly, it allows us to expand our proven IN.PACT DCB platform beyond the superficial femoral artery. We are excited to bring this technology to physicians in the U.S. and to help improve the lives of patients living with ESRD," said Mark Pacyna, vice president and general manager of the Peripheral Vascular business in the Medtronic Cardiac & Vascular Group.

10:50 EST Aurelius says short Paysign, sees 'stock promotion set to end in failure' - In a short report posted to its website, short-seller Aurelius Value said "We are short Paysign and believe the company bears the markings of yet another stock promotion set to end in failure." Arthur De Joya, who previously settled with the SEC over his alleged role in "a micro-cap scheme involving sham companies created by a banned Canadian stock promoter," appears to have continued to operate behind the scenes at Paysign, according to the firm. Reference Link

10:43 EST WeWork to cut 2,400 jobs globally, Bloomberg reports

10:05 EST Johns Manville to acquire ITW Insulation Systems, terms not disclosed - Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) company, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire ITW Insulation Systems, a business owned by Illinois Tool Works (ITW) that is known in the industrial industry for its premium, low-temperature polyisocyanurate foam insulations and metal jacketing solutions. The deal is expected to close in early December. ITW Insulation Systems has 100 employees who work at four manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada. ITW Insulation Systems' primary markets include refining, petrochemical, power, LNG, food & beverage, oil sands and other energy applications. JM plans to integrate ITW Insulation Systems as a key part of its industrial insulation portfolio without making significant changes to the existing operations at ITW Insulation Systems.

09:47 EST Berry Global rises 10.9% - Berry Global is up 10.9%, or $4.56 to $46.45.

09:47 EST Charles Schwab rises 10.3% - Charles Schwab is up 10.3%, or $4.61 to $49.36.

09:34 EST UPS expects delivery average of 32M packages per day during peak holiday season - The company said, "The holiday shopping season is underway and UPS is well-prepared to deliver a record number of package shipments - 5% more than the record level set in 2018. Each November and December the company flexes its global network muscles to meet increased demand from its diverse base of businesses, small and large. UPS serves more than 90% of major retailers and adapts to meet their consumer holiday shipping requirements, while ensuring timely delivery for its business-to-business customers who account for about 50% of UPS's annual package delivery volume. During the 2019 peak holiday season, running November 29 through December 30, UPS expects to deliver an average of 32 million packages and documents per day - a 60% increase over the 20 million delivered on an average, non-peak day. This year, the company has the capacity to flex its network like never before. In 2019, UPS added about five million square feet of highly automated facilities, including nearly 400,000 pieces per hour of sortation capacity. The company has opened six new automated super-hubs around the U.S. in the last two years. Successfully delivering about three quarters of a billion holiday gifts, medical supplies, auto parts, computer equipment and legal documents in about one month takes seamless integration of engineering and transportation expertise with a healthy dose of UPS's can-do culture. "

09:30 EST American Airlines announces 20 new routes for summer 2020 - American Airlines plans to launch an additional eight new domestic routes this summer, offering customers a total of 20 new seasonal routes in summer 2020. The new routes include service to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts and new service from Jackson, Mississippi and Des Moines, Iowa to Miami, the airline's gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Beginning in June, American will add two new ways to get to the lighthouses and sandy beaches of Martha's Vineyard from two connecting hubs on the East Coast - Philadelphia and Charlotte. The airline will also introduce a new route to the cobblestone streets of Nantucket with Saturday service from PHL. All three flights will be operated on an Embraer 175, featuring 12 First Class seats and 64 Main Cabin seats. Next summer, Traverse City will see direct service from PHL and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, giving customers access to the shores of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay every Saturday. The airline will also introduce new Saturday service from Dallas-Fort Worth to the waterfront city of Portland, Maine operated on an Airbus 319 aircraft. MIA is American's gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and, next summer, customers flying from JAN and DSM will have nonstop service to MIA on Saturday and Sunday from June through August. Flight times will complement one-stop connections to vacation favorites like Bonaire, St. Vincent, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. American previously announced seasonal service to National Parks in Kalispell and Bozeman, Montana, and increased service to Alaska, including a new destination, Fairbanks, which will begin operating in May. In August, American announced an international expansion that includes entering Africa for the first time with service to Casablanca, Morocco, from PHL and seasonal service from Chicago to Krakow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Budapest, Hungary. American will be the only US carrier providing service to KRK, BUD and PRG from ORD. New flights will be available for purchase Nov. 25.

09:26 EST Merit Medical receives FDA breakthrough device designation for WRAPSODY system - Merit Medical Systems announced that it has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Merit WRAPSODY Endovascular Stent Graft System. The WRAPSODY system is a flexible, self-expanding endoprosthesis for which Merit intends to seek indication for use in hemodialysis patients for the treatment of stenosis within the central veins of the outflow circuit of an arteriovenous fistula up to the superior vena cava.

09:21 EST National Grid makes strategic investment in Urbint - Urbint announced that National Grid Partners has made a strategic investment in the company. Urbint will use the funding to accelerate the development of an AI-based enterprise risk platform for gas infrastructure. "Our investment in Urbint supports our shared vision of the power of AI to make the gas industry safer," said Lisa Lambert, founder and president of National Grid Partners. "We look forward to working with Urbint more closely to further demonstrate the value new technology can bring to gas providers making risk driven decisions." Urbint will leverage this investment to continue to advance its research and development on risk-based solutions, as well as begin its international expansion.

09:20 EST Xerox says HP Inc.'s response 'lacks a clear path forward'

09:19 EST NXP, Dongfeng Venucia, Hangsheng Electronics collaboration achieves milestone - NXP Semiconductors, Dongfeng Venucia, and Hangsheng Electronics jointly announced that the Venucia T90 e-cockpit, "Venucia 3.0 PLUS," marks a mass production milestone in the companies' joint efforts to bring next-generation eCockpits to drivers.Co-developed by Dongfeng-Nissan Technology Center, Hangsheng Electronics, and NXP, the Venucia 3.0 PLUS leverages NXP's high-performance i.MX 8QuadMax applications processor to bring a dynamic dashboard with digital clusters for multimedia, extended functionality including vehicle-to-home connectivity, anytime online navigation, and sensor-based climate control. NXP's unique hardware partitioning architecture and capability to run multiple operating systems, without a hypervisor, ensures that the Venucia 3.0 PLUS subsystems - including safety-critical displays - remain functioning.

09:19 EST Xerox sends letter to HP Inc. board regarding its $22 per share offer - Xerox (XRX) sent a letter to members of the Board of Directors at HP Inc. (HPQ) regarding its proposal to acquire HP for $22.00 per share, comprising $17.00 in cash and 0.137 Xerox shares for each HP share. The letter states: "We were very surprised that HP's Board of Directors summarily rejected our compelling proposal to acquire HP for $22.00 per share, comprising $17.00 in cash and 0.137 Xerox shares for each HP share, claiming our offer "significantly undervalues" HP. Frankly, we are confused by this reasoning in that your own financial advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co., set a $14 price target with a "sell" rating for HP's stock after you announced your restructuring plan on October 3, 2019. Our offer represents a 57% premium to Goldman's price target and a 29% premium to HP's 30-day volume weighted average trading price of $17. Moreover, our offer is neither "highly conditional" nor "uncertain" as you state. There will be NO financing condition to the completion of our acquisition of HP. While we are glad to see that HP's Board of Directors acknowledges the substantial merits of a business combination between Xerox and HP and are open to exploring the value opportunity for our respective shareholders, your response lacks a clear path forward. You have requested customary due diligence, which we have accepted, but you have refused to agree to corresponding due diligence for Xerox. Any friendly process for a combination of this type requires mutual diligence-your proposal for one-way diligence is an unnecessary delay tactic. In light of favorable markets and terms, Xerox is determined to capture the compelling opportunity for our respective shareholders and strongly encourages HP's Board of Directors not to sanction further delay in light of our extensive discussions to date. Xerox remains willing to devote the resources necessary to complete mutual due diligence over the next three weeks and confirm the substantial cost and revenue synergies that we both believe could be achieved through a combination. The Xerox Board of Directors is determined to expeditiously pursue our proposed acquisition of HP to completion-we see no cause for further delay. Accordingly, unless you and we agree on mutual confirmatory due diligence to support a friendly combination by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, November 25, 2019, Xerox will take its compelling case to create superior value for our respective shareholders directly to your shareholders. The overwhelming support our offer will receive from HP shareholders should resolve any further doubts you have regarding the wisdom of swiftly moving forward to complete the transaction."

09:17 EST Verizon becomes official 5G Innovation Partner to Snap - Verizon (VZ) and Snap (SNAP) announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to leverage Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband technology to support Snap's best-in-class augmented reality, visual communications, and content experiences. As official 5G innovation partners, the companies will work together at Verizon's 5G Labs to create new experiences for consumers, including opportunities to experience live events in new ways through Snapchat. The partnership will also include premium sponsorship placements within Snap Originals video series. Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband's low latency, fast speeds and high bandwidth will enable Snap's AR innovation through cutting-edge applications. This includes Landmarker tech, which creates location-based entertainment experiences and Portal Lenses that can transport fans backstage at a concert or provide spectators unique in-stadium experiences from their seat during the game.

09:16 EST Franklin Resources appoints Jennifer Johnson as president, CEO - Franklin Resources announced the appointment of Jennifer Johnson as president and CEO. Current CEO Gregory Johnson will become executive chairman of Franklin Resources, Inc. and continue in his role as chairman of the Company's board of directors. The CEO appointment was approved by the Company's board of directors, and both appointments will become effective at the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on February 11, 2020. As president and CEO, Ms. Johnson will be responsible for the operation of all aspects of the business, and she will set long-range strategic objectives and drive corporate priorities. As executive chairman, Mr. Johnson will continue to play an active role within the organization, represent the Company with key stakeholders, consult on significant decisions such as merger and acquisition opportunities, and advise on the strategic direction of the firm. Ms. Johnson, president and chief operating officer, has been instrumental in developing and driving the Company's overall strategic direction.

09:12 EST Chubb authorizes $1.5B share repurchase program - The Board announced authorization of a share repurchase program of up to $1.5B through December 31, 2020. The company's current share repurchase authorization will remain effective through December 31, 2019 and while effective would be used in advance of the share repurchase authorized today. The timing and volume of any share repurchases under this authorization will be determined by management at its discretion and pursuant to the company's capital management strategy.

09:11 EST Fly Intel: Pre-market Movers - HIGHER: Charles Schwab (SCHW) and TD Ameritrade (AMTD), up 12% and 24%, respectively, after CNBC reported Charles Schwab is in talks to acquire TD Ameritrade and a deal could be announced as soon as today... Uber (UBER), up 2% after CEO Dara Khosrowshahi disclosed in a filing that he had purchased 250,000 shares of company stock at an average price of $26.75 per share on November 18 in a transaction with a value of roughly $6.7M. UP AFTER EARNINGS: Anaplan (PLAN), up 14%... L Brands (LB), up 3%... Copart (CPRT), up 5%... DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Macy's (M), down 5%... BJ's Wholesale (BJ), down 13%... Baozun (BZUN), down 10%. ALSO LOWER: E-Trade (ETFC), down 5% after report that Charles Schwab is in talks to buy TD Ameritrade... Applied Materials (AMAT), down 3% after UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri downgraded the stock to Sell from Neutral ... KLA-Tencor (KLAC), down 3% after UBS' Arcuri double downgraded shares to Sell from Buy... Lam Research (LRCX), down 3% after UBS' Arcuri downgraded the stock to Sell from Neutral.

09:09 EST Firefly Value Partners issues letter to Gulfport Energy board - Firefly Value Partners, which manages funds that, together with affiliates, collectively beneficially own 9.9% of the outstanding common stock of Gulfport Energy, issued a public letter to the Gulfport board. The letter said, "...We have had a meaningful investment in Gulfport since 2013. Over the past six years, two things have remained constant: Gulfport has had a first-rate asset in the Utica Shale, and Gulfport's Board of Directors (the "Board") has seemingly done its best to prevent the full value of this asset from accruing to shareholders. In late 2018, after years of underperformance in the Company's shares, Firefly initiated a private dialogue with the Board. Throughout that dialogue, we expressed our concerns about the Board's history of poor governance and its approval of value-destructive capital allocation policies. To address these issues and promote alignment between stockholders and Company directors, we proposed an action plan, including the addition of meaningful shareholder representation in the boardroom. The Board refused, instead promising that the Company's latest personnel changes would lead to improvements in governance and strategy. Disappointed by the Board's unwillingness to work constructively with shareholders, Firefly published a public letter on January 17th outlining proposals to improve the Company's capital allocation. Later that day, the Board announced a capital plan that substantially adopted our suggestions. Following that announcement, we chose to give the Company time to implement its plan without distraction in the hope that the Board would finally display a true commitment to creating value for shareholders. In our March 6th public letter, we underscored the importance of Gulfport following through on its commitments with urgency. Almost a year has passed since Firefly first engaged with the Board. Unfortunately, things have not improved. The Company has not even come close to fulfilling its commitments to urgently pursue non-core asset sales and return cash proceeds to shareholders. While the Company has issued presentations and press releases regarding its plans, these steps have been half-measures at best and do not show real progress or strategic direction from the Board. The market has reacted negatively to this state of affairs, sending Gulfport's shares down another 66% since our first public letter. Over six years, Gulfport's shares have lost an incredible 95% of their value.1 Gulfport's performance lags those of its peers and the overall market by a massive margin. We strongly believe that a Board refresh is needed. In fact, we have expressed this view repeatedly to the Company, both in public and private discussions. In our most recent discussions, we specifically identified the need for three directors to be replaced and for a shareholder representative to be added to the Board. We proposed that the Company collaborate with us to identify three candidates who possess the right mix of skillsets and experience-and add a Firefly principal to the Board to ensure that the best interests of all shareholders are represented. However, in the middle of our most recent private discussions, instead of engaging with us in good faith to add true shareholder representation and necessary skills to the Board, the Company rushed out a press release with vague commitments to Board refreshment. On November 18th, the Company announced the planned resignations of nearly half of the Board without naming their replacements or providing a timeline to do so. We view this half-baked proposal as yet another example of poor strategic planning and a deafness to the urgency of shareholder concerns. This defensive response does nothing to satisfy the need for shareholder perspective in the boardroom. Unsurprisingly, the market reacted poorly, sending the shares down another 12%..."

09:07 EST Euroseas takes delivery of four recently acquired vessels - Euroseas announced that it has taken delivery of all four vessels recently acquired from Synergy Holdings Limited. The four vessels are all built in South Korea, one in 2008 and three in 2009, are all of intermediate size of 4,253 teu. The Company has also assumed the charters the vessels are currently under.

09:05 EST Houghton Mifflin's Into Literature approved inTexas for grades 9-12 - Houghton Mifflin announced that the Texas State Board of Education has approved Into Literature Texas for grades 9-12. The program is part of HMH's Into Learning suite, a series of solutions to support teachers as they help students build literacy and communication skills.

09:02 EST iRobot commences manufacturing operations in Malaysia ahead of schedule - iRobot (IRBT) announced that it has officially commenced production in Malaysia ahead of schedule. Working with Jabil (JBL), iRobot has expanded its manufacturing capabilities into Malaysia as part of its strategic supply chain diversification initiative. Jabil has served as one of iRobot's trusted manufacturing and supply chain partners in China since 2010. iRobot is now producing limited quantities of one Roomba 600 Series model in Malaysia but plans to accelerate volume production for this model beginning in the first quarter of 2020. Additional models may be added to the line over the coming quarters and into 2021.

09:00 EST Centogene announces temporary leave of absence of board member Holger Friedrich - CENTOGENE announced that Holger Friedrich, a member of the Company's supervisory board, will with immediate effect take a temporary leave of absence from the Supervisory Board.

08:45 EST Canopy Growth says securities class-action suits 'without merit' - The company said, "Canopy Growth is aware of yet-to-be certified securities class-action suits having been filed in the United States that allege that the company issued certain false and misleading statements. The company believes it has conducted itself in accordance with all relevant securities laws, and that the claims are without merit. The company intends to vigorously defend itself against any such suits."

08:45 EST Dolby, Warner Music Group to expand music available in Dolby Atmos - Dolby Laboratories and Warner Music Group are introducing an elevated way to experience WMG songs and albums with Dolby Atmos Music. Dolby is working closely with artists, record labels, streaming services, and consumer electronics manufacturers to make Dolby Atmos Music experiences widely accessible. Music fans can stream WMG tracks n Dolby Atmos on Echo Studio, Amazon's recently announced smart speaker, through Amazon Music HD.

08:43 EST Perceptron announces alliance with Coherix for bead inspection - Perceptro announced a new commercial partnership with Coherix Inc. Headquartered in neighboring Ann Arbor, Michigan, Coherix develops and manufactures high speed, high definition 3D machine vision solutions for semiconductor, electronics, and automotive applications. Coherix is well positioned to take advantage of automotive manufacturers' transformation from vehicle welding to the use of highly engineered glues called structural adhesives. Coherix's Predator3D laser-based solution is installed directly on adhesive dispensing nozzles to provide real-time 3D inspection, visualization, and process control for the adhesive and sealant dispensing process, while ensuring the right volume of adhesive is placed in the right location.

08:42 EST Ooma powers omni business phone service offered by Sprint - Ooma (OOMA) announced that its Ooma Office service is powering the new Omni business phone service from Sprint (S).

08:39 EST Taoping announces agreement with Asia Taoping to develop SE Asia, Oceania market - Taoping announced that the Company has entered into an agreement with Asia Taoping for the Company to become a 10% equity owner of Asia Taoping. Incorporated in 2018, Asia Taoping is a company based in Singapore. On December 7, 2018, the Company entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Asia Taoping to develop South Asia and Southeast Asia market. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company granted Asia Taoping a license to Taoping's software, patents and trademarks to develop Taoping's new media ecosystem in South East Asia and Oceania countries, including, among others, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, and Asia Taoping will be a regional partner to physically roll out Taoping Network of smart display screens in these countries. As is practiced in China, the Company will provide its local partners like Asia Taoping with smart display screens, software, online media operations, technical support and system upgrade services, while Asia Taoping will be in charge of local media operations. Separately, Taoping's new media ecosystem in China has expanded to over 160 cities. Over the last few years, TAOP has provided technical support services for its local city partners for free to encourage healthy growth of Taoping Network and Taoping Alliance. Now with the majority of city partners being profitable, the Company announces its plan to start to collect a technical service fee beginning in year 2020. The technical service fee is a daily fee for each advertisement published on each Taoping smart screen. With healthy growth of the new media ecosystem, the Company expects the fee will be a recurring and growing revenue stream for TAOP in operating this new media ecosystem.

08:36 EST MySize receives Notice of Allowance from Israel Patent Office - My Size announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the Israel Patent Office for its patent application, entitled: "A System For and a Method of Measuring a Path Length Using a Handheld Electronic Device." With this latest Notice of Allowance, the company now has six issued/allowed patents and 15 patent applications pending worldwide. The allowed patent application covers the methods and systems for measuring a body part of a user using a handheld electronic device and addresses the foundational technology that is the basis for the MySizeID measurement app. MySizeID's proprietary algorithms utilize a smartphone's sensors combined with anthropometric data to provide customers highly accurate sizing information for specific brands, based on the users exact measurements.

08:33 EST Cardtronics announces additional $50M share repurchase authorization - Cardtronics announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase an additional $50M of its Class A ordinary shares outstanding through December 31, 2020. With this additional $50 million authorization, the Board has cumulatively approved up to $100M in share repurchases since March 2019, of which $50M has been completed. Share repurchases under the authorization may be effected on behalf of the Company through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, including pursuant to SEC trading rules.

08:28 EST Oramed patent granted in Japan for protease inhibitor - Oramed's Japanese patent for the technology "Protease Inhibitor - Containing Compositions, Compositions Comprising Same, and Methods for Producing and Using Same" has been granted by the Japanese Patent Office.

08:27 EST Macy's 'remains confident' in strategic initiatives

08:26 EST Telus, MobiledgeX to open MobiledgeX Early Access Program in Canada - TELUS and MobiledgeX announced that the MobiledgeX Early Access Program will soon open in Canada. A first for North America, the program allows developers to build, experiment, and test applications and experiences using next-generation, low-latency edge computing powered by MobiledgeX. Leveraging the world-class TELUS mobile network, the MobiledgeX Early Access Program will allow Canadian developers to build innovative apps and devices for planned deployment on MobiledgeX's fast-growing global edge network. Live testing of the MobiledgeX Early Access Program will be available in select major cities across Canada, including the TELUS Lab 5G at Zu, a Montreal-based incubator for start-ups innovating in the entertainment space. Additional live testing sites across Canada will be announced shortly as the program evolves.

08:22 EST Amarantus announces issuance of Chinese patent covering MANF, CDNF use - Amarantus Bioscience Holdings announced that subsidiary MANF Therapeutics has been issued a Chinese patent covering the use of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor and/or cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor for the treatment of retinal disorders. MANF Therapeutics is focused on the development of MANF as an intravitreal injection for the treatment of glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and Wolfram Syndrome. The ophthalmic therapeutic market is expected to reach $35B by 2025 according to Grand View Research, Inc. Glaucoma affects approximately 4 million people in the United States, with a total drug market size of approximately $3B. With its novel mechanism of action, MANF addresses key pathways in a variety of 'back of the eye' retinal conditions, which is an area with significant unmet medical need. MANF has significant therapeutic potential across multiple orphan ophthalmological conditions such as retinal artery occlusion and retinitis pigmentosa, where MANF has already received orphan drug designations from the FDA, Wolfram Syndrome, as well as in larger indications such as glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including stroke and myocardial infarction. MANF Therapeutics is the front-runner and primary worldwide intellectual property holder for MANF-based therapies including protein therapy, gene therapy and cell therapy. The Company owns rights to composition of matter patents and patent applications for MANF and owns, or has licenses to, method of use patents and patent applications covering the use of MANF in ophthalmology, neurology and diabetes. Amarantus has entered into a binding term sheet to license MANF to Emerald Organic Products. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019.

08:21 EST Altimmune plans to advance ALT-801 into Phase 1 development in 2020 - Altimmune announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader call on ALT-801, the Company's GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis on Thursday, December 5th at 11am Eastern Time. The call will feature a presentation by Stephen Harrison, MD, am expert in the field of NASH, who will provide an overview of current and future treatment approaches for this disorder. Dr. Harrison will be available to answer questions at the conclusion of the call. The meeting will also feature a presentation by Altimmune's management team, which will provide an update on their NASH product candidate, ALT-801, a novel peptide-based dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist. As demonstrated in relevant animal models, ALT-801 is capable of inducing significant weight loss and treating the obesity and metabolic dysfunction underlying the disorder. ALT-801 acts earlier in liver disease progression than other NASH product candidates in development and has shown the potential to return metabolic and liver function to normal. Altimmune plans to advance ALT-801 into Phase 1 development in 2020.

08:17 EST Julius Baer goes live with pilot of MarketAxess' Axess IQ - MarketAxess Holdings announced that Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd has gone live with a pilot version of MarketAxess' new order and execution workflow solution, Axess IQ. Axess IQ is designed to meet the needs of wealth management and private banking community by improving liquidity discovery, execution efficiency and alpha generation across execution operations of firms with large numbers of individual client orders. The connectivity of Axess IQ and the MarketAxess trading network means clients can access unparalleled global fixed income market liquidity with added order management and automation capabilities

08:14 EST Dare Bioscience completes acquisition of Microchips Biotech - Dare Bioscience announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition by merger of privately-held Microchips Biotech, Inc. As a result of the transaction, Microchips is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dare. Microchips is developing an innovative, wireless, user-controlled drug delivery technology with potential utility across multiple therapeutic areas, including contraception. The technology is designed to store and precisely deliver hundreds of therapeutic doses, over months or years in a single implant and is intended to allow for changes to dosage levels via a wireless remote. The application of this technology in developing a contraceptive product has been supported by the Gates Foundation in the form of approximately $17.9M in grant funding to date. Microchips is eligible to receive up to $2.5M in additional grant funding from the Gates Foundation in 2020 to cover the costs of ongoing development activities of the contraceptive program. Microchips' cash and cash equivalents at the closing of the merger, less estimated transaction-related expenses, were approximately $5.7M. Cash resources that are not committed to funding the contraceptive program activities under the grant from the Gates Foundation will be used by Dare for working capital and general corporate purposes. Microchips, with financial support from the Gates Foundation, has been developing an implantable long-acting, reversible contraceptive application of its drug delivery technology, which, if successful, will provide women with unparalleled control over the management of their fertility, which can be individually timed to meet her family planning goals and objectives. The device is intended to deliver all the benefits of a traditional long-acting, reversible contraceptive product, utilizing the active pharmaceutical ingredient levonorgestrel, to provide precise dosing and extended implant duration with the added flexibility of wirelessly controlling the duration of ovulatory suppression based on individual user needs. Dare will issue an aggregate of approximately three million shares of its common stock in exchange for the cash and cash equivalents, less any liabilities, of Microchips at closing. With the issuance of such shares, the former stockholders of Microchips, which include Polaris Venture Partners, MS Pace, Intersouth Partners, and Teva Pharmaceutical, will become stockholders of Dare. Cheryl Blanchard, Ph.D., the former president and CEO of Microchips, joined Dare's board of directors upon the closing of the merger.

08:11 EST Daxor says Yale University study utilizes BVA-100 for empagliflozin - Daxor Corporation announces new data from The Yale University School of Medicine that was presented on November 16th at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, PA."Empaglilozin has shown unexpected benefits in reducing heart failure mortality for diabetic patients, making it one of the most talked-about discoveries in recent years. Researchers at Yale utilized Daxor's unique technology to analyze the volume shifts associated with the drug and were able to determine that there is a significant and sustained blood volume shift that is unique to this diuretic that may explain why diabetic HF patients have been shown in recent trials to benefit from its use. This data is concordant with other recently published studies showing that controlling blood volume has significant benefit for HF patients and adds to the wide body of evidence proving the diagnostic value of our BVA-100 blood test," said Michael Feldschuh, CEO of Daxor Corporation. "The BVA-100 test provides a simple, rapid, and accurate means to directly measure blood volume and composition. We are excited that our novel diagnostic is being used to support such important research in the area of HF." The study titled "Empagliflozin in Heart Failure: Diuretic and Cardio-Renal Effects," characterized the acute and sub-acute diuretic effects of empagliflozin inhibition on natriuresis, volume status, and neurohormonal activation in patients with type 2 diabetes and HF. Blood volume parameters were measured with Daxor's BVA-100 diagnostic blood test.

08:10 EST Milacron trading halted, news dissemination

08:06 EST Honeywell to support BP's offshore Trinidad compression platform - Honeywell (HON) will design and deliver the Integrated Control and Safety System that will help BP (BP) remotely manage its offshore compression platform off Trinidad and Tobago's southeast coast. As the project's main automation contractor, Honeywell will deliver all systems, detailed engineering and lead procurement for the integrated control and safety system. This new project follows the 2018 award of the MAC contract to Honeywell for BP Trinidad and Tobago's Angelin offshore gas project.

08:05 EST Soliton, Emphysys enter three-year development agreement - Soliton announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Development Agreement with Emphysys, an interdisciplinary technology and product development firm just outside Boston, for design and engineering services related to the company's acoustical shockwave technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Emphysys will provide engineering and design services related to shockwave technology for use in dermatology and aesthetics fields to Soliton for a three-year period.

08:04 EST Whirlpool to provide appliances to D.R. Horton homeowners - D.R. Horton (DHI) and Whirlpool (WHR) have joined forces to provide large appliances to homeowners across the country. A five-year exclusive agreement between D.R. Horton and Whirlpool ensures high-quality Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid brand appliances will be in all newly built D.R. Horton homes as of Jan. 1, 2020.

08:02 EST Bio-Path Holdings annnounces clearance of IND application for BP1002 - Bio-Path Holdings announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed and cleared the Investigational New Drug application for BP1002, the Company's second drug candidate. An initial Phase 1 clinical trial will evaluate the ability of BP1002 to treat refractory/relapsed lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. BP1002 targets the protein Bcl-2, which is responsible for driving cell survival in up to 60% of all cancers. High expression of Bcl-2 has been correlated with adverse prognosis for patients diagnosed with relapsed, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Preclinical studies have shown BP1002 to be a potent inhibitor against the Bcl-2 target, and its benign safety profile should enable BP1002 combination therapy with approved agents. The Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to be conducted at several leading cancer centers, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Georgia Cancer Center. Initially, a total of six evaluable patients are scheduled to be treated with BP1002 monotherapy in a standard 3+3 design, with a starting dose of 20 mg/m2. The approved treatment cycle is two doses per week over four weeks, resulting in eight doses administered over twenty-eight days. William G. Wierda, M.D., Ph.D. will serve as Principal Investigator for the trial. Dr. Wierda is a Professor and Center Medical Director for the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Wierda also serves as Section Chief - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson.

07:42 EST Par Technology subsidiary awarded $4.8M Air Force contract for RFIT - Par Technology announced that its subsidiary, PAR Government Systems, was awarded a $4.8M research and development contract from the U.S. Air Force called "Radio Frequency Innovative Technology", or RFIT. RFIT is a five-year program with the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, Information Directorate, under which, PAR Government will conduct research, development, test and evaluation activities to accomplish radio frequency and communications technical program requirements for operational airframes, aircraft, vehicles, weapon systems, and controlled, contested environment tests and experiments in response to Air Force and other Department of Defense components.

07:39 EST Anaplan up 9.9% after reporting Q3 results, raising FY19 revenue guidance

07:35 EST Biogen announces enrollment completion of Phase 3 STAR clinical study - Biogen announced the enrollment of the last patient in the global Phase 3 STAR clinical study, which is evaluating the investigational gene therapy timrepigene emparvovec for the treatment of choroideremia. CHM is a rare, degenerative, X-linked inherited retinal disorder that leads to blindness. STAR is a randomized, masked, prospective, parallel-controlled group Phase 3 study that enrolled 170 adult males with CHM. The study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of a single subretinal injection of timrepigene emparvovec. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with an improvement of at least 15 letters from baseline in best corrected visual acuity at 12 months post treatment as measured by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity protocol. The STAR study was initiated based on proof-of-concept data from Phase 1/2 studies, which indicated that at month 24, over 90 percent of patients treated with timrepigene emparvovec via targeted subretinal injection maintained visual acuity instead of experiencing the natural decline in BCVA expected in this degenerative disease. In a subset of treated patients with moderate to severe visual acuity loss, 21 percent experienced a gain in visual acuity of at least 15 ETDRS letters from baseline as compared to one percent of untreated patients in a natural history study.

07:32 EST Jack in the Box says expects to report material weakness in internal controls - In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, Jack in the Box disclosed that in its upcoming fiscal 2019 Form 10-K, the company expects to report a material weakness in internal controls. The company said: "The weakness relates to general information technology controls over certain information technology systems that support the company's financial reporting processes. As of the date of this release, there have been no misstatements identified in the financial statements as a result of these deficiencies, and the company expects to timely file its Form 10-K. In fiscal 2020, the company will adopt the new lease accounting standard. The company expects this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet upon adoption, recognizing liabilities of approximately $950M and corresponding assets of approximately $900M. There is no material impact to net earnings or cash flows expected; however, franchise revenues and franchise expenses are each expected to increase by approximately $5M in 2020.

07:28 EST BJ's Wholesale down 12% to $22.74 after lowering FY19 merchandise SSS view - The company also narrowed its FY19 EPS and revenue outlook.

07:23 EST Macy's down 6.5% to $14.03 after lowering FY19 outlook

07:22 EST Ooredoo Kuwait chooses Fortinet to deliver SD-WAN managed service - Fortinet announced that it has been chosen by Ooredoo Kuwait, a part of Ooredoo Group, to deliver the region's first secure SD-WAN managed service. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN will allow Ooredoo's existing and new enterprise customers to achieve accelerated connectivity, transport mode independence, and increased application performance while benefiting from tightly knit SD-WAN and advanced security features. Ooredoo Kuwait itself is deploying Fortinet's Secure SD-WAN across its retail branches and will serve as a reference for customers wishing to follow suit.

07:19 EST Wingstop announces exclusive online ordering extension with Twitch - Wingstop (WING) launched its exclusive online ordering Extension with Twitch (AMZN). As an Extension, also known as a live app for customizing channels with interactive elements, the Wing Calculator enables fans to choose their meal directly within the platform, all without leaving their couch - or favorite live stream.

07:17 EST Kazia Therapeutics requests trading halt from ASX ahead of Phase 2 data release - Kazia Therapeutics requested a halt in trading of Kazia's securities listed on ASX effective from before the open of trading on Thursday, November 21, pending the release of new clinical data from its GDC-0084 Phase 2 trial, according to a notice posted on the ASX website. Reference Link

07:15 EST Baudax Bio announces launch as company focused on non-opioid analgesics - Baudax Bio (BXRX) announced its launch as an independent, publicly traded pharmaceutical company focused on advancing non-opioid analgesics and other products for the hospital and other acute care settings. Beginning tomorrow, November 22, 2019, Baudax will trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol "BXRX." When-issued trading under the symbol "BXRXV" continues until market close today. Baudax launches with $19M in funding from Recro Pharma (REPH), its former parent company, and holds the rights to a pipeline of pharmaceutical assets, including: IV Meloxicam - Baudax holds exclusive global rights to IV meloxicam, a post-Phase 3 non-opioid analgesic developed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. If approved, IV meloxicam will be a novel IV non-opioid option for the management of moderate to severe pain. IV meloxicam successfully completed three Phase III clinical studies, including two Phase III efficacy studies and one Phase III safety study, four Phase II clinical studies, as well as other safety studies. Baudax recently received a written decision from the FDA granting an appeal for a Complete Response Letter the Company received relating to its IV meloxicam New Drug Application. Baudax is now in the process of preparing a comprehensive response to the FDA that includes proposed labeling and certain other information. Two Neuromuscular Blocking Agents and A Reversal Agent - Baudax holds exclusive global rights to two novel neuromuscular blocking agents and a proprietary chemical reversal agent specific to these NMBs which were licensed from Cornell University in 2017. The reversal agent is a proprietary agent that rapidly reverses the NMB compounds. Used together, these agents allow for a very rapid induction of neuromuscular blockade for surgical settings, followed by a rapid reversal of the neuromuscular blockade. These novel agents have the potential to meaningfully reduce procedure recovery time in operating room or post-acute care settings, resulting in valuable cost savings to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. RP-1000 is an intermediate duration clinical-stage NMB drug candidate with one completed Phase I trial and with plans to initiate an additional dose escalation Phase I trial in the first half of 2020. RP-2000 is an ultra-short acting NMB drug candidate which is currently completing early pre-clinical and drug product work. Intranasal Dexmedetomidine - Baudax holds rights to intranasal dexmedetomidine, a non-opioid alpha-2 adrenergic agonist being developed for possible uses in pain or sedation. IV dexmedetomidine has a long history of use in the U.S. and Europe as a short-term sedative with both analgesic or anxiolytic properties and is widely used in intensive care unit settings and for procedural sedation. Baudax's Dex-IN demonstrated pain relief and a favorable tolerability profile in early-stage, placebo-controlled clinical studies. Baudax is pursuing potential product partnering for Dex-IN. Baudax Bio is led by a team of pharmaceutical industry veterans, including: Gerri Henwood, President and CEO, who brings over three decades of senior leadership experience in biopharmaceuticals, healthcare and life sciences, including as Founder, President and CEO of both Recro Pharma. Ryan Lake, CFO, who brings almost 20 years of senior financial and life sciences leadership experience. He also currently serves as the CFO for Recro Pharma. Stewart McCallum, MD, CMO, who brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical and healthcare industry experience. Prior to Baudax, Dr. McCallum served as CMO of Recro Pharma.

07:10 EST Americold to acquire Nova Cold from Brookfield Business Partners for C$337M - Americold Realty Trust (COLD) announced that the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nova Cold, based in Canada, for C$337M from Brookfield Business Partners (BBU), together with its institutional partners. The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in Q1 of 2020. Separately, the company announced that is has completed the acquisition of two cold storage facilities owned by MHW Group, one in Maryland and one in Pennsylvania, and exercised an option to purchase the underlying land, for $54M. The Nova Cold portfolio consists of three locations totaling 23.5M cubic feet with approximately 81,000 pallet positions, and additional acreage for future expansions, located in the cities of Toronto, Calgary, and Halifax. This acquisition expands Americold's position in Canad, where the company already has a presence through its third-party management business. Americold's current customer base has overlap with Nova Cold's. This transaction is expected to be executed at a year one NOI yield of approximately 6.1% and is intended to be funded with a combination of cash on the balance sheet, the company's corporate revolver and proceeds from the company's Q2 equity forward. Additionally, the company intends to implement cross-currency swaps to reduce exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.The MHW portfolio consists of two facilities totaling 19M cubic feet and approximately 86,000 pallet positions located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and Perryville, Maryland. Both facilities are rail-served sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. This transaction is being executed at a year one NOI yield of approximately 7.8% and is being funded with cash on the balance sheet.

07:09 EST Domino's Pizza opens first store in Czech Republic - Domino's Pizza is continuing its global growth momentum with the opening of its first store in the Czech Republic. Residents of Brno can now enjoy hot, made-to-order pizza in-store or delivered to their doorstep by Domino's, through a partnership with master franchisee Daufood Czech Republic S.R.O. The first location is in the Vinohrady area of Brno, and features the new pizza theater design, a refreshing and inviting interior, stylish seating, as well as a front row seat to watch all the action of pizza-making. A second location will be opening in Brno's city center, with additional locations planned for next year.

07:06 EST Entera Bio appoints Jonathan Lieber as CFO - Entera Bio (ENTX) announced that it has established a U.S. Headquarters in the Boston area and has hired Jonathan Lieber as its U.S.-based CFO. Lieber will be responsible for all investor relations, finance and administrative functions, and will lead the Company's future financing efforts to support the company's growth initiatives He currently serves as a managing director of Danforth Advisors, and most recently served as CFO of Histogenics (HSGX).

07:05 EST S&P Global to acquire ESG ratings business from RobecoSAM - S&P Global will acquire the ESG Ratings Business from RobecoSAM, an affiliate of Robeco, including the SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment - an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The ESG Ratings Business is comprised of two units: one administering the SAM CSA for the purpose of issuing ESG Ratings and a second that provides reports to companies seeking to understand their performance relative to their peers. The acquisition aims to bolster S&P Global's position as a resource for environmental, social, and governance insights and product solutions for its customers.

07:02 EST Macy's CEO says 'experienced a deceleration in our third quarter sales' - "After seven consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth, we experienced a deceleration in our third quarter sales. While we anticipated a negative comp as we were lapping a very strong third quarter last year, the sales deceleration was steeper than we expected. However, having cleared the excess inventory we faced earlier in the year, we were able to take a more balanced approach to sales and profit in the quarter, resulting in significantly improved margin compression versus the first half of the year," said Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO of Macy's. "Our third quarter sales were impacted by the late arrival of cold weather, continued soft international tourism and weaker than anticipated performance in lower tier malls. We also experienced a temporary impact on our e-commerce business due in part to work on the site in preparation for the fourth quarter. The team has completed that work, the site is upgraded and our customers can expect an improved experience this holiday season. Based primarily on the impact of our third quarter sales trend, we are updating our annual guidance. We have confidence in our holiday strategies. The Macy's, Bloomingdales and Bluemercury teams are aligned and committed to delivering a great experience for our customers in our stores, on our digital sites and through our mobile apps. We have fully updated our Growth150 stores and completed the 2019 expansion of Backstage. We have curated an expanded gift assortment with great values in all categories and developed a powerful marketing calendar for both our best and occasional customers. This holiday season, we also have even more flexible, secure and convenient fulfillment options for our customers including Pick Up in Store and Same Day Delivery," continued Gennette.

06:56 EST Hannon Armstrong and Morgan Properties acquire Freddie Mac green housing loans - Hannon Armstrong (HASI) and Morgan Properties, a real estate investment and management company, announced a new joint venture that will acquire the B-Piece from Freddie Mac's (FMCC) previously settled KG series focused on environmental and social impact, and part of Freddie Mac's flagship K-Deal program. The issuance, K-G02, is exclusively comprised of securitized workforce housing loans made through Freddie Mac's Green Advantage program which requires borrowers to make energy and/or water efficiency improvements to their properties. At closing, the total loan balance represented by the K-G02 Multifamily Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates was approximately $544M and the unguaranteed B-Piece that Hannon Armstrong and Morgan Properties acquired had a face amount of approximately $41M.

06:53 EST BJ's Wholesale announces $250M share repurchase plan - On November 20, the company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program, effective immediately. The authorization allows the company to repurchase up to $250M of its outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase program expires in January 2022 and gives management the flexibility to determine the terms and conditions under which shares may be purchased.

06:51 EST BJ's Wholesale lowers FY19 adj. EBITDA view to $585M-$592M from $590M-$600M

06:46 EST BJ's Wholesale reports Q3 comparable club sales down o.4%%, up 1.1% ex-gasoline - Comparable club sales for the third quarter of decreased 0.4%, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2018. Comparable club sales, excluding the impact of gasoline sales increased 1.1%.

06:44 EST Hoegh LNG Partners reports Q3 EPS 30c, consensus 38c - Reports Q3 revenue $37M, consensus $36.86M. Steffen Foreid, CEO and CFO stated: "Hoegh LNG Partners' assets all performed according to contract and at 100% availability in the quarter, underpinning the partnership's well-supported distribution. Driven by environmental and cost arguments, demand for FSRU services continues to be strong, enabling importing countries to access global LNG markets in a cost effective and quick manner. With an established platform of long-term contracts, Hoegh LNG Partners is well positioned to maintain its leadership position in the FSRU sector as growth opportunities crystalize."

06:32 EST Annaly Capital CEO Kevin Keyes to depart, Glenn Votek named interim CEO - Annaly Capital announced the departure of Kevin Keyes from his roles as Chairman, CEO and President of the company and member of the Board of Directors. The Board and Keyes have mutually agreed that his departure will be effective November 21. The Board has named Glenn Votek to serve as CEO and President on an interim basis. Votek has been elected to the Board and will also continue to serve as CFO. The Board has formed a search committee and has commenced a search for a permanent CEO, including both internal and external candidates. Votek has been instrumental in the development and execution of Annaly's strategy, operations and oversight of the financial and technology functions. Votek, who joined Annaly in 2013, is a well-known industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in financial services. Prior to his role as CFO at Annaly, he served as Executive Vice President and Treasurer at CIT Group since 1999 and also President of Consumer Finance since 2012.

06:13 EST FCA US recalls 528,594 SUVs to ensure integrity of an electrical connection - FCA US LLC said in a statement that it is recalling an estimated 528,594 SUVs in the U.S. to help ensure the integrity of an electrical connection. Feedback from FCA dealers led to an FCA investigation that discovered silicon deposits on the contact points of certain fuel pump relays may interrupt electrical current and prevent engine start-up and/or contribute to stall. The company is unaware of any potentially related injuries or accidents. Affected are certain 2011-13 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. Relays in the subject vehicles may have been installed in response to a previous recall. Reference Link

06:03 EST BrightView acquires Heaviland Enterprises, Clean Cut Lawns, terms not disclosed - BrightView announced the acquisition of Heaviland Enterprises, a commercial landscaping company headquartered in San Diego, Calif., and Clean Cut Lawns, a landscaping firm in Mesa, Ariz. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

05:43 EST E-Trade drops 16c to $45.70 after CNBC says Schwab in talks to buy Ameritrade

05:43 EST Charles Schwab drops 1% to $44.26 after CNBC says in talks to buy Ameritrade

05:38 EST Harpoon Therapeutics, AbbVie announce licensing, option collaboration - Harpoon Therapeutics (HARP) and AbbVie (ABBV) announced an exclusive worldwide option and license transaction for HPN217, Harpoon's B cell maturation antigen, or BCMA,-targeting Tri-specific T cell Activating Construct, or TriTAC, and an expansion of their existing discovery collaboration for up to six additional targets. These agreements build upon the discovery collaboration established by the two companies in October 2017 and are expected to advance and broaden the use of Harpoon's proprietary TriTAC platform. The TriTAC platform produces novel T cell engagers targeting both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Under the terms of the license and option agreement, Harpoon granted to AbbVie an option to license worldwide exclusive rights to HPN217. Harpoon will be responsible for development of HPN217 through Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Upon exercise of the option, AbbVie will conduct all future clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization activities. AbbVie may exercise its option to license HPN217 after completion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The license and option agreement represents a potential transaction value of up to $510 million in upfront, option and milestone payments, plus royalties on global commercial sales. Under the terms of the expanded discovery collaboration agreement, AbbVie will receive worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize two new TriTAC molecules engineered for two selected targets. AbbVie has the option to select up to four additional targets for a total of up to six new targets. For each selected target under the Amended Discovery agreement, Harpoon is eligible to receive up to $310 million in upfront and potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on global commercial sales. Consistent with the existing discovery collaboration agreement, Harpoon and AbbVie will conduct certain initial research and discovery activities for each designated target, after which AbbVie will be solely responsible for further development and commercialization efforts.

05:32 EST Cellcom Israel announces purported class action filed against the company - Cellcom Israel announced that a purported class action was filed against the company and two other Israeli cellular operators, alleging that the defendants unlawfully charged their customers for content services provided by third party providers, in violation of their licenses and applicable law. The amount claimed from each defendant, if the lawsuit is certified as a class action, was estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 400 million plus NIS 500 for alleged non monetary damages for each customer. At this preliminary stage, the company is unable to assess the lawsuit's chances of success.

05:05 EST Fiat Chrysler says General Motors lawsuit 'without merit' - Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) confirms that it will defend itself vigorously against the lawsuit filed yesterday by General Motors (GM). FCA believes General Motors' claims are nothing more than a meritless attempt to divert attention from that company's own challenges. "This astonishing ploy comes at a time when FCA is proving itself to be an ever more formidable competitor that continues to create significant value for all its stakeholders through the successful implementation of its long-term strategy. This includes the proposed merger with PSA, which itself completed the successful turnaround of the European businesses it acquired not long ago from General Motors. FCA will deal with this extraordinary attempt at distraction through the appropriate channels and will stay focused on continuing to deliver record results while realizing an exciting vision for the future of the industry. FCA is confident that it will prevail in defending itself against these claims in court and will also pursue all available remedies in response to this groundless lawsuit."