Stockwinners Market Radar for July 17, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:43 EDT Eldorado Resorts secures NJ CCC approval in connection with Caesars deal - Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (ERI) announced that at a meeting today, the Company received approval from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in connection with its pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CZR), subject to applicable conditions. Eldorado and Caesars have received all required regulatory approvals necessary to close the merger.

17:36 EDT Raytheon Missiles and Defense awarded $125.9M government contract - Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $125,881,928 fixed-price, incentive fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-5370 to exercise options for the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar low rate initial production. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts; Andover, Massachusetts; Sudbury, Massachusetts; and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This option exercise is for the production of six EASR LRIP units; four AN/SPY-6(V)2 EASR rotator LRIP units; and two AN/SPY-6(V)3 EASR fixed-faced LRIP units. The AN/SPY-6(V)2 EASR rotator LRIP units will be deployed on the USS Bougainville; USS John C. Stennis; USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29); and USS Harrisburg. The AN/SPY-6(V)3 EASR fixed-faced LRIP units will be deployed on USS John F. Kennedy; and USS Brooke. Work is expected to be completed by January 2023. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2020 shipbuilding and conversion funding in the amount of $122,301,170 will be obligated at time of award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

17:10 EDT Stryker awarded $225M government contract - Stryker Corp., doing business as Stryker Endoscopy, San Jose, California, has been awarded a maximum $225,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for patient monitoring and capital equipment systems and accessories. This was a competitive acquisition with 52 offers received. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is California, with a July 16, 2025, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

17:03 EDT Algonquin Power CEO Ian Robertson retires - Algonquin Power announced the retirement of Ian Robertson as CEO and the appointment of Arun Banskota as the incoming CEO. This transition has been a multi-year initiative by APUC's Board of Directors to support a transition to new leadership while "maintaining the company's strong track record of growth and delivering long-term shareholder value."

16:30 EDT PepsiCo's Schellekens sells 7,611 common shares - In a regulatory filing, PepsiCo EVP and chief HR officer Ronald Schellekens disclosed the sale of 7,611 common shares of the company on July 15 at a price of $135.35 per share.

16:18 EDT Hess Midstream Partners to delay maintenance at Tioga Gas Plant to 2021 - The company states: "Hess Midstream LP announced that the planned maintenance turnaround at the Tioga Gas Plant originally scheduled for Q3 of 2020 will be deferred until 2021 to ensure safe and timely execution in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the turnaround, the TGP expansion project is well advanced, with facility construction expected to be completed as previously announced by the end of 2020. Incremental gas processing capacity is expected to be available in 2021 upon completion of the turnaround, during which the expansion and residue and natural gas liquid takeaway pipelines will be tied in."

16:06 EDT Five Star Bank to transform to full-service branch model - Five Star Bank announced a transformation that will streamline its retail branches to better align with shifting customer needs and preferences. Rapid advancements in financial technology are giving consumers increased options to bank from anywhere, with 71 percent of U.S. banking customers regularly using online banking services, according to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. At Five Star Bank, this trend is evident in total daily in-branch teller transactions declining by six percent annually since 2018, and similarly in the first three months of 2020, prior to COVID-19. "While our values and service promises remain steadfast, we have a fundamental responsibility to our customers, associates and the communities we serve to adapt our approach as market conditions change," said Martin K. Birmingham, CEO, of Five Star Bank. "Over the years we've launched technology and developed unique partnerships that offer customers a more seamless, integrated experience, regardless of how they choose to bank with us. Now, as the reliance on, and customer demand for, digital banking services rise, our branch offices must evolve once again."

15:36 EDT AstraZeneca up over 5.5% ahead of anticipated publication on COVID vaccine - Earlier this week, Sky News reported that the Lancet Medical Journal plans to publish Phase 1 clinical trial data on Oxford University and AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, July 20. Ahead of the close, shares of AstraZeneca trading in New York are up $3.19, or 5.55%, to $60.62. Reference Link

14:02 EDT Williams announces FERC approval for Leidy South natural gas project - Williams (WMB) announced approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to move forward with its Leidy South Project that will create 582,400 Dth/d of additional pipeline capacity and "provide enough natural gas to serve the equivalent of more than 2.5 million homes and further enable power plants to convert from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas." The project will connect supplies of natural gas produced by Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) and Seneca Resources Company, in the Marcellus and Utica regions of Pennsylvania with demand markets along the Atlantic Seaboard by the 2021-2022 winter heating season, Williams said. UGI Utilities Inc. is a local distribution company that will be using its capacity to directly serve its customers in northeast Pennsylvania, Williams added.

13:39 EDT Home Depot to require face masks in all U.S. stores - The Home Depot announced that shoppers will be required to wear masks or facial coverings while inside all U.S. stores, beginning Wednesday, July 22. Small children or those who have a valid medical condition will not be required to wear a mask. Currently, about 85% of Home Depot stores already require facial masks in compliance with local and state regulations, and all Home Depot associates are required to wear masks in stores, distribution centers, and other locations. "We appreciate all of our associates who have been working so hard to serve our customers with the essential products they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to thank our customers for their cooperation as we work to protect everyone in our stores," said Ann-Marie Campbell, executive vice president of stores for The Home Depot.

13:15 EDT Transcontinental Realty Investment trading halted, volatility trading pause

13:02 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count down 5 to 253 rigs - Baker Hughes reports that the U.S. rig count is down 5 rigs from last week to 253 with oil rigs down 1 to 180, gas rigs down 4 to 71, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2. The U.S. Rig Count is down 701 rigs from last year's count of 954, with oil rigs down 599, gas rigs down 103, and miscellaneous rigs up 1 to 2. The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is unchanged at 12 and down 14 year-over-year. The Canada Rig Count is up 6 rigs from last week to 32, with oil rigs unchanged at 6 and gas rigs up 6 to 26. The Canada Rig Count is down 86 rigs from last year's count of 118, with oil rigs down 77 and gas rigs down 9.

12:42 EDT Lowe's adopts nationwide standard for customers to wear masks in all U.S. stores - Lowe's Companies announced it is adopting a nationwide standard for all customers to wear masks or face coverings when shopping in U.S. stores effective July 20. Lowe's will offer free masks at the customer service desk of every store for customers who need them, while supplies last. "As a retailer offering essential goods, we have a responsibility to our associates, customers and small businesses in communities nationwide to help provide a safe shopping experience," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "Throughout this pandemic, our associates have worked tirelessly so customers could get the goods and services they needed for their homes and small businesses. For the safety of everyone in our stores, we ask that customers wear masks, and to make this new standard less restrictive, we will make masks available to those who need them."

12:32 EDT Phibro says FDA disagrees with its scientific conclusions on Mecadox - The FDA today provided notice of Federal Register publication of its intention to take a number of actions related to its ongoing review of the regulatory status of Mecadox, Phibro Animal Health said in a statement. "Mecadox has been approved and sold in the United States for more than 45 years and is a widely used treatment for controlling bacterial diseases in swine, including Salmonella and swine dysentery, resulting in improved health and welfare for newly born and young pigs." The company added, "In the notice published by the FDA, the agency states it does not agree with Phibro's scientific conclusions and announced a new process for the review of carbadox, instead of following its own procedure and moving forward with a hearing that would resolve the parties' differing interpretations of the science supporting the safety of carbadox. Phibro disagrees with the agency's conclusions and is disappointed that it is taking these steps. Phibro stands ready to discuss alternative regulatory methods if the FDA believes that the current method is inappropriate. Phibro has requested to the FDA Office of the Commissioner that the agency continue the process it started in 2016 and proceed with a hearing to review the substantial body of data supporting the safety of carbadox. In addition to the science proving the safety of carbadox, Phibro believes the unparalleled therapeutic efficacy, which has significant animal health and welfare implications, supports the continued use of carbadox. Phibro will continue to defend swine producers' ability to use Mecadox to protect the health and welfare of their animals. Mecadox continues to be available for use by swine producers. "

12:22 EDT Nikola chairman reiterates AZ factory breaking ground July 23 - Nikola chairman Trevor Milton said via Twitter, "Breaking ground on our factory in Coolidge, AZ on July 23rd.! (6 days away) Due to covid, we have to limit guests to invite only. We will film it, but it will take a few hours to upload once we get done. We are getting closer and closer to production." Milton tweeted back on June 19: " "Breaking! @nikolamotor factory in Coolidge Arizona breaks ground July 23rd. The ceremony will be held there to kick off construction of the plant that will build up to 35,000 zero emission semi trucks and create thousands of jobs."

12:06 EDT Rite Aid to require face coverings at all locations - Rite Aid said in a release, "With COVID-19 cases rising and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, urging widespread adoption of face coverings, Rite Aid will require customers to wear face coverings in all locations effective Tuesday, July 21. If a customer does not have a face covering, Rite Aid will provide one free of charge. Face masks or shields have been mandatory for Rite Aid associates since May 1 and have been required for customers in communities where face coverings are required by law in public spaces. In line with Rite Aid's commitment to support the whole-being health of the communities it serves, the company is expanding the requirement for customers to wear face coverings in all locations. Out of an abundance of caution for their safety, associates will not be asked to enforce requirements, but will be supported by signage and in-store announcements."

12:00 EDT NIO Inc. falls -14.3% - NIO Inc. is down -14.3%, or -$1.85 to $11.09.

12:00 EDT BlueLinx rises 15.8% - BlueLinx is up 15.8%, or $1.56 to $11.42.

12:00 EDT Ashford Hospitality rises 17.7% - Ashford Hospitality is up 17.7%, or 98c to $6.55.

11:24 EDT U.S. video game spending totaled $1.2B in June, up 26%, says NDP - NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella announced via Twitter that June 2020 tracked spending across Video Game hardware, software, accessories and game cards totaled $1.2 billion, gaining 26% when compared to a year ago. This is the highest tracked spend for a June month since $1.3 billion was reached in June 2009. Year-to-date tracked spending across Video Game hardware, software, accessories and game cards reached $6.6 billion, an increase of 19% when compared to a year ago. This is the highest total for the year-to-date period since $7.0 billion was achieved in 2010, Piscatella said. June dollar sales of tracked Video Game software grew 49% compared to a year ago, to $570 million. This is the highest total for a June month since the $598 million reached in 2010. Year-to-date sales total $3.0 billion, 19% higher when compared to a year ago. "The Last of Us: Part II," a PlayStation 4 (SNE) exclusive, was June's best-selling game, and instantly becomes the 3rd best-selling game of the year. "The Last of Us: Part II" now ranks as the 8th best-selling game of the twelve month period ending June. "The Last of Us: Part II" achieved the highest launch month dollar sales of any 2020 release to date. "The Last of Us: Part II" reached the 2nd highest launch month dollar sales for a Sony published game in history. Only "Marvel's Spider-Man" achieved a larger debut month. "Ring Fit Adventure" (NTDOY) ranked as the 7th best-selling game of June, after finishing May ranked 835th. New stock entering the market drove the increase. Piscatella noted that Activision Blizzard's (ATVI) "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" remains the top selling video game year-to-date, with "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" in second place. Other publicly traded companies in the video game space include Microsoft (MSFT), Take-Two (TTWO), Electronic Arts (EA), Tencent (TCEHY), Ubisoft (UBSFY), and Capcom (CCOEY). Reference Link

10:27 EDT State Street sees Q3 NII down approx. 9%-11% on a sequential quarter basis

10:23 EDT Nutanix jumps after mention on The Information's 'Takeover Target List' - The Information Staff has released a new report to subscribers with its list of potential takeover targets, stating in the lead-up of the article that the "season for M&A may soon be upon us." Among the names mentioned on the tech-focused blog's list is Nutanix (NTNX). Potential bidders include Google (GOOGL), whose cloud division could benefit from owning the company as its bigger rivals, Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT), "already have technologies that operate both in private data centers and in the cloud," argues The Information's report. In morning trading, Nutanix shares have jumped $1.52, or 7.5%, to $21.87. Reference Link

10:11 EDT Inovio says Seoul National University Hospital dosed first COVID trial patient - "Inovio and @IVIHeadquarters in partnership with Seoul National University Hospital dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of INOVIO's #COVID19 DNA vaccine candidate in South Korea," the company announced in a tweet. Reference Link

10:05 EDT Velodyne Lidar announces multi-year sales agreement with Blue City - Velodyne Lidar announced a multi-year sales agreement with Blue City Technology, developer of a Smart City system for traffic monitoring. "The Blue City Technology solution, equipped with Velodyne's lidar sensors, helps improve road safety and mobility by providing real-time multi-modal traffic data and analytics to traffic lights. Blue City Technology, an Automated with Velodyne partner, uses Velodyne Ultra Puck sensors to collect reliable, detailed traffic data about road users, including vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, while preserving anonymity. Velodyne's lidar sensors do not identify individuals' facial characteristics, a growing concern for civic applications," the company stated. On July 2, Graf Industrial announced an agreement with Velodyne Lidar and its founder David Hall, pursuant to which Graf will combine with Velodyne through a merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graf with and into Velodyne, with Velodyne surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graf. Upon the closing of the transaction, Graf will be renamed "Velodyne Lidar" and will remain NYSE-listed under the new ticker symbol VLDR.

10:00 EDT Evolent Health rises 10.4% - Evolent Health is up 10.4%, or 88c to $9.36.

09:47 EDT Uber to commit $10M to advance success of Black-owned small businesses - Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a blog post that in addition to previously committing $1M to the Equal Justice Institute and Center for Policing Equity, "we will commit to a $10M investment over the next two years to advance the success of Black-owned small businesses by driving demand via promotions and other merchant support. In addition to extending the $0 delivery fee for Black-owned restaurants for all of 2020, we are taking steps to more effectively identify and highlight the diversity of restaurants on our platform, including Black-owned restaurants, permanently. We will strengthen and expand our supplier diversity program with the goal of doubling spending with Black-owned businesses and contractors." The CEO also said Uber plans to double Black representation in leadership by 2025 through pipeline development and hiring. "We must do more. As a company that powers movement, it's our goal to ensure everyone can move freely and safely, whether physically, economically or socially. To do that, we must help fight the racism that persists across society and be a champion for equity, both inside and outside our company." Reference Link

09:47 EDT NIO Inc. falls -8.0% - NIO Inc. is down -8.0%, or -$1.03 to $11.91.

09:47 EDT Virgin Galactic rises 6.8% - Virgin Galactic is up 6.8%, or $1.43 to $22.50.

09:47 EDT Crestwood Equity rises 13.6% - Crestwood Equity is up 13.6%, or $1.67 to $13.98.

09:21 EDT Ocwen considering 'broad spectrum' of options to maximize shareholder value

09:11 EDT Bassett Furniture announces marketing efforts in outdoor strategy - Bassett Furniture Industries has made a significant commitment to the outdoor furniture category. With annual growth rates expected to be 4% to 5% compounded annually through 2023, the outdoor furniture market is estimated to be $5B in the United States. The Company has chosen to maximize its investment in the category by approaching the marketplace through three distinct marketing efforts: The Lane Venture brand, acquired by Bassett in December 2017, has been operationally re-invented through a return to domestic upholstery production that has dramatically improved lead times. LV was the first Bassett division to begin rebounding from the COVID pandemic, in part because of its ability to service dealers during the crucial spring selling season. Supporting the manufacturing model is a 175,000 square foot warehouse in Newton, NC providing ample storage for frame stock and multiple dock doors for shipping and receiving. In 2019, LV expanded its offerings by adding fully upholstered outdoor product and has enjoyed strong consumer sell through, particularly from the interior design trade. To market this new capability and to support the brand re-invention strategy, LV launched a new website in July 2019 which has doubled the incoming consumer traffic to the site as compared to last year. Dating back to the initial acquisition in 2017, the Company believed that domestic production of metal outdoor furniture would enhance the LV brand. Accordingly, Bassett completed the acquisition of a 95,000 square foot manufacturing operation in Haleyville, Alabama in October 2019. This allowed LV to begin marketing a tariff free aluminum product. Marketed under Lane Venture Custom Casual, the new assortment offers custom metal finishes that coordinate with the existing array of fabrics. In addition to a full complement of metal fabrication capabilities, the Haleyville operation boasts an electrostatic powder coat finishing line that features a proprietary pretreatment process that provides superior paint adhesion once the product is cured in ovens exceeding 400 degrees. These products are built from a combination of extruded, solid, sheet, and cast aluminum. In addition to providing product for LV, Bassett has entered the hospitality and contract business with a line of seating, sling furniture, and aluminum dining fabricated in the Haleyville location. Field specialists have been hired and the line debuted at the Country Club Show in Dallas just before the onset of the pandemic. After 18 months of development and preparation, the line debuted to the public in March with a direct mail catalog and extensive promotion on the Bassett website. The products are sold exclusively in Bassett Home Furnishings corporate and licensed stores and on the Bassett website. The launch of Bassett Outdoor, however, directly coincided with the closure of all 100 BHF stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales have been steadily improving as the stores have reopened and more consumers become aware of the Company's entry into outdoor furniture under the Bassett brand. Stores that have adequate square footage will floor the product throughout the year as the Company works toward the next phase of product and further marketing of Bassett Outdoor going forward. The management team is as follows: Mark Jordan - General Manager Bassett Outdoor Division; Robert Spilman - Director of Sales Lane Venture; Patti Frye - Creative Director LV/Bassett Outdoor; Matt Scallions - Director of Design & Product Development Bassett Outdoor; Jon Bennett - General Manager Bassett Outdoor Alabama."

09:06 EDT Franklin Resources expects to close Legg Mason acquisition on July 31 - Franklin Resources (BEN) and Legg Mason (LM) announced that all conditions to the closing of their previously announced merger transaction have been satisfied and the transaction is expected to close on July 31. The companies said in a release, "Pursuant to the merger, which was announced on February 18, Franklin Templeton will acquire Legg Mason for $50.00 per share of common stock in an all-cash transaction. Franklin Templeton will also assume approximately $2 billion of Legg Mason's outstanding debt. Today, Franklin Templeton is depositing the merger consideration in a third-party escrow account. The merger closing will occur and the funds will be released to the paying agent at the closing, subject to Legg Mason's continued compliance in all material respects with its covenants under the merger agreement. Trading in shares of Legg Mason's common stock is expected to be suspended on the New York Stock Exchange as of close of business on July 31, and Legg Mason's common stock is expected to be delisted from the NYSE. Following the closing, combined, consolidated financial results will first be reported for the quarter ended September 30, with Franklin Templeton's pro forma historical financials expected to be available by mid-October."

09:02 EDT Alacer Gold obtains final order approving plan of arrangement with SSR Mining - SSR Mining and Alacer Gold are pleased to announce today that Alacer has obtained a final order from the Supreme Court of Yukon approving the previously announced at-market merger of equals with SSR Mining, pursuant to a plan of arrangement under section 195 of the Business Corporations Act. Pursuant to the Transaction, shareholders of Alacer will receive 0.3246 SSR Mining shares for each Alacer share held. As previously announced, each of SSR Mining and Alacer received all necessary shareholder approvals in connection with the Transaction at their respective special shareholder meetings held on July 10. Completion of the Transaction is subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

08:47 EDT Teligent appoints Philip Yachmetz as CLO, corporate secretary - Teligent announced the hiring of Philip Yachmetz as chief legal officer and corporate secretary of the company, effective July 16, 2020. Most recently, from 2015 through July 2020, Mr. Yachmetz served as chief legal and compliance officer of Sovereign Medical Services, a privately held fully integrated community healthcare system company. In connection with the hiring of Mr. Yachmetz, in addition to other compensation disclosed in Teligent's Current Report on Form 8-K, Teligent's Board of Directors authorized the grant to Mr. Yachmetz of 23,505 restricted stock units; and a non-qualified stock option to purchase 36,325 shares of Common Stock. The awards are an inducement material to Mr. Yachmetz's entering into employment with Teligent in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option has a ten-year term and an exercise price of $2.34 per share, the fair market value of Teligent's common stock on the date of grant. Each of the awards will vest as follows: one-third of the shares shall vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of Mr. Yachmetz's first date of employment, subject to Mr. Yachmetz's continued employment. The awards are subject to the terms and conditions of a restricted stock unit agreement and stock option agreement, respectively.

08:07 EDT Aura Minerals reports preliminary Q2 total GEO production 37,308 - Aura Minerals announces preliminary operational results for the second quarter of 2020. The second quarter of 2020 was impacted by the new Coronavirus, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. As previously announced, the Company and its subsidiaries have prioritized the safety of its employees and the communities around which Aura operates during the Pandemic and have implemented protective measures and biosafety protocols during this period in addition to expanding Aura's social work with local communities, including donations of food, medicine and medical supplies. From an operational perspective, also as previously announced, the Pandemic caused partial interruptions for most of the second quarter at two of our operating mines: On March 16, 2020, the government of Honduras approved the suspension of work in the public and private sectors in response to the Pandemic, and accordingly Aura proceeded to operate with a minimal labor force in order to maintain tailings and continue to satisfy environmental requirements in connection with operations and other critical activities at the mine. On May 26, 2020, Aura obtained authorization to fully resume operations at San Andres. On March 31, 2020, the Mexican government issued a decree requiring the suspension of all non-essential activities in the public and private sectors. On May 12, 2020, mining was deemed to be an essential activity by the Mexican authorities, and mining companies were authorized to request permission to fully resume their activities beginning on May 18, 2020. The decree of March 31, 2020 permitted companies to maintain critical activities which, if interrupted, could result in potentially irreversible damage that could impair their continuity. Consequently, the Company suspended all non-essential operations at Aranzazu and maintained only critical activities that were necessary to avoid security and/or environmental risks and the occurrence of potentially irreversible damages that could impair the continuity of its operations. On May 27, 2020, Aranzazu obtained authorization to fully resume operations. Despite the challenges arising from the Pandemic, production in the second quarter of 2020 fell by only 7% compared to the first quarter and 10% compared to the same period of 2019 when comparing production across periods using current gold/copper/silver prices. Production in the second quarter of 2020 fell by only 5% when compared to the first quarter and remained almost stable when compared to the second quarter of 2019 when measured using constant gold/copper/silver prices. As of the day of this press release, the mine is producing with no operational restrictions and close to its full operating potential. Also as previously announced, the Company is engaged in advanced stage studies to increase production capacity by approximately 30%, which increased production is expected to occur by late 2020.

08:05 EDT Halliburton forms strategic agreement with Microsoft, Accenture - Halliburton (HAL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Accenture (ACN) announced they have entered into a five-year strategic agreement to advance Halliburton's digital capabilities in Microsoft Azure. The companies said in a release, "Under the agreement, Halliburton will complete its move to cloud-based digital platforms and strengthen its customer offerings by: Enhancing real-time platforms for expanded remote operations, Improving analytics capability with the Halliburton Data Lake utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence, and Accelerating the deployment of new technology and applications, including SOC2 compliance, for Halliburton's overall system reliability and security. The agreement also enables the migration of all Halliburton physical data centers to Azure, which delivers enterprise-grade cloud services at global scale and offers sustainability benefits. Accenture will work closely with Microsoft, in conjunction with their Avanade joint venture, to help transition Halliburton's digital capabilities and business-critical applications to Azure. Accenture will leverage its comprehensive cloud migration framework, which brings industrialized capabilities together with exclusive tools, methods, and automation to accelerate Halliburton's data center migration and provide for additional transformation opportunities. The companies expect to complete the staged migration by 2022."

08:02 EDT LMP Automotive acquires 75% interest in Southeast Toyota Franchise Dealership - LMP Automotive Holdings (LMPX) announced the acquisition of a 75% interest in a Southeast Toyota (TM) Franchise Dealership. Sam Tawfik, the Company's Chairman and CEO stated, "We at LMP are extremely excited to expand our dealership footprint which is in line with our hybrid e-commerce strategy. We are looking forward to enabling our subscription and e-commerce technology over this dealer platform in order to further expand upon its historical success. We are also focused on adding additional executive management as our current pipeline of potential franchise dealership group acquisitions is growing."

07:49 EDT Ally Financial reports Q2 net interest margin 2.40%, down 26 bps y/y - Net interest margin of 2.40%, including Core OIDB of 2 bps, decreased 26 bps year-over-year. Excluding Core OIDB, NIM was 2.42%, down 25 bps versus the prior year period, due to elevated liquidity levels, losses on off-lease vehicles and mortgage premium amortization. Provision for credit losses increased $110M year-over-year to $287M due to COVID-19 reserve build driven by macroeconomic variables. Noninterest expense increased $104M year-over-year, primarily driven by a $50M goodwill impairment at Ally Invest, higher weather related losses, technology spend supporting business initiatives and the addition of Ally Lending in the fourth quarter of 2019.

07:42 EDT Foresight initiates first pilot project for COVID-19 symptom detection solution - Foresight Autonomous announced that it will begin a pilot project for its prototype COVID-19 symptom detection mass screening solution. Foresight said in a release, "The technology will be evaluated for several months by Meuhedet, one of Israel's largest health maintenance organizations. Meuhedet serves over one million patients from all sectors across Israel and maintains more than 300 clinics throughout the country. The pilot project will be carried out in Meuhedet's largest clinic in Ashdod which serves approximately 50,000 patients. To date, several entire neighborhoods in Ashdod have been quarantined due to a large number of confirmed coronavirus patients. Foresight's solution, which is based on the Company's extensive knowledge of thermal and visible-light cameras, artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms, is designed to rapidly and accurately detect some of the main symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus. The combination of several symptoms increases the likelihood of accurate detection and potentially eliminates false positive results. The system will be installed, with no consideration to the Company, at the entrance to the clinic, and will allow screening of all incoming patients. Initial detection of high body temperature will determine if further testing for fatigue and cough symptoms is required. Real-time data collected by the system will allow Foresight to further develop and improve the system, as more data is collected."

07:41 EDT RADA Electronic announces $8M in new orders since start of June - RADA Electronic announced the receipt of $8M in accumulated new orders since June 1. To date, the aggregate amount of new orders since the beginning of 2020 has reached $49M, compared to $31M received for the same period in 2019. Out of the $8M new orders, 70% were for RADA's software-defined tactical radars for counter UAV and counter fires. The radars' orders are a mix of follow-ons from existing customers, along with orders from new defense customers. Most of these orders are expected to be delivered during 2020. The rest of the orders were for UAV avionics as well as digital video recorders and debriefing stations for fighter aircraft. RADA continues to expect revenues to grow in 2020 to over $65M, guidance that was released in December 2019, representing an increase of over 47% year-over-year.

07:39 EDT Ally Financial: Share repurchases to remain suspended through year-end 2020

07:37 EDT Amicus secures $400M non-dilutive debt financing - Amicus Therapeutics announced that it has executed a definitive agreement for a $400M credit facility with Hayfin Capital Management. The strategic financing allows Amicus to deliver on its mission for patients and shareholders and places it firmly on a path to profitability and its vision to become one of the world's leading biotechnology companies focused on rare genetic diseases. Key features of this new credit facility include: Interest rate at 6.5% above LIBOR, subject to a 100-basis-point floor; Requires interest-only payments until mid-2024 and matures in 2026; The full amount of this senior-secured term loan facility is available and will be fully drawn at close; There are no warrants or any equity conversion features associated with the loan; The proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt and for other general corporate and product development purposes. Subject to completion of customary closing conditions, the new loan is expected to be funded prior to August 4, 2020. Cowen acted as sole financial advisor to Amicus Therapeutics on this transaction.

07:34 EDT MeiraGTx announces clinical data from Phase 1/2 trial of AAV-RPGR - MeiraGTx Holdings (MGTX) announced six-month data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AAV-RPGR, an investigational gene therapy in development for the treatment of patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa with genetically confirmed variants in the RPGR gene. Significant improvement in vision was demonstrated in the dose escalation phase of the trial and AAV-RPGR was found to be generally well tolerated. These initial results from the trial are being presented as a late-breaker oral presentation at the American Society of Retina Specialists 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting. MeiraGTx and Janssen Pharmaceuticals (JNJ) are jointly developing AAV-RPGR as part of a broader collaboration to develop and commercialize gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases. The ongoing Phase 1/2 MGT009 clinical trial consists of three phases: dose-escalation, dose-confirmation, and dose-expansion. In the dose-escalation phase, adults were administered low, intermediate, or high dose AAV-RPGR. Each patient was treated with subretinal delivery of AAV-RPGR in the eye that was more affected at baseline. The patient's other eye served as an untreated control. The primary endpoint of the trial is safety, with secondary endpoints assessing changes in visual function at pre-specified timepoints post-treatment. Baseline values were determined in triplicate. At six months, significant improvement in retinal sensitivity was demonstrated in patients treated with low and intermediate dose AAV-RPGR. Improvement was evident at first post-treatment perimetry assessments at three months, with improvements generally sustained or increased at six months. Significant differences were observed in retinal sensitivity between treated and untreated eyes over time. Based on the robust safety and efficacy signals observed in the dose escalation portion of the study, the low and intermediate doses were selected for use in the ongoing randomized, controlled dose-expansion phase of the trial. Based on the safety and efficacy data demonstrated in the MGT009 trial to date, MeiraGTx and Janssen expect to advance AAV-RPGR into the Phase 3 Lumeos clinical trial for the treatment of patients with XLRP caused by mutations in RPGR gene. Data obtained to date suggest AAV-RPGR is generally well-tolerated. Most adverse events were related to the surgical delivery procedure, were transient and resolved without intervention. There were no dose-limiting events. Inflammatory responses to therapy were observed in two out of three patients in the high dose cohort, which may have been associated with decreased activity of AAV-RPGR in these patients. Inflammation was effectively managed with an extended steroid protocol. Six-month data from the dose escalation portion of the study demonstrated meaningful improvement from baseline in retinal sensitivity in the low and intermediate dose cohorts. Importantly, these improvements were evident when assessed with two perimetry approaches and three analysis metrics. Significant differences in mean retinal sensitivity were observed between treated eyes and untreated eyes in the intermediate dose cohort: 1.02 dB. Significant differences were observed in central visual field progression ratebetween treated eyes and untreated eyes in both the low, 1.10 dB-sr/year and intermediate, 1.26 dB-sr/year, dose cohorts. Efficacy signals were observed at first post-treatment assessments at three months, with improvements generally sustained or increased at six months. Perimetry is a sensitive standard-of-care measure of retinal function that reproducibly determines retinal sensitivity both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, thereby accurately defining disease progression over time.

07:06 EDT Citizens Financial reports Q2 provision for credit losses $464M vs. $97M last yr

07:03 EDT Cyclerion Therapeutics announces presentation on biomarker data - Cyclerion Therapeutics announced that Christopher Winrow, Ph.D., Senior Director, Neuroscience Development Program Lead, presented on "Leveraging Biomarker Data & Preclinical Models to Guide the Design of Clinical Studies" at the Annual Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease Summit that was held virtually on July 15, 2020. The presentation detailed the application of translational biomarkers to guide clinical activities for IW-6463, the Company's therapeutic candidate for CNS diseases. In preclinical studies, IW-6463 has demonstrated beneficial effects across four domains relevant to neurodegenerative diseases: cerebral blood flow, cellular bioenergetics, neuro-inflammation, and neuronal function. Cyclerion plans to develop IW-6463 in individuals with Alzheimer's disease with vascular pathology, as well as in MELAS, a genetically defined orphan disease. The Company is evaluating cerebrospinal fluid and plasma biomarkers and various imaging approaches to define optimal clinical endpoints.

07:01 EDT Bristol-Myers: EMA validates MAA for lisocabtagene maraleucel - Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the European Medicines Agency has validated its Marketing Authorization Application for lisocabtagene maraleucel, an investigational CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma grade 3B after at least two prior therapies. Validation of the application confirms the submission is complete and begins the EMA's centralized review process.

06:56 EDT Citizens Financial CEO says Q2 'an outstanding quarter in all respects' - "This was an outstanding quarter for Citizens in all respects," said Chairman and CEO Bruce Van Saun. "We successfully navigated the challenging external environment, taking great care of customers and colleagues, while demonstrating the diversification and resilience of our business model. We posted record revenue and pre-provision profit, built a strong loan loss reserve, and grew our CET1 capital ratio to 9.6%. We were also pleased to announce further commitments to diversity and inclusion, along with initiatives to promote racial equity and social justice."

06:51 EDT Wesco adopts shareholder rights plan - Wesco said in a release, "The board of WESCO adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right on each outstanding share of WESCO common stock. The rights are intended to enable all WESCO stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment in the Company. The rights will not prevent a takeover, but should encourage anyone seeking to acquire the Company to negotiate with the Company's board. The rights plan provides that the rights will expire on July 16, 2021. The board of the Company could determine to terminate the rights plan earlier if circumstances warrant. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 10% or more (or, in the case of passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G, 15% or more) of WESCO's common stock. Passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G will not benefit from the higher threshold if they subsequently file a statement on Schedule 13D and, at such time or anytime thereafter, beneficially own 10% or more of WESCO's common stock, unless such investors reduce their ownership to below 10% within 10 days from such filing. If a person or group beneficially owns 10% or more (or, in the case of passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G, 15% or more) of WESCO's common stock at the time of the adoption of the rights plan, such person's or group's ownership will be "grandfathered" at the level of their ownership at the time of the adoption of the rights plan, but the rights would become exercisable if such person or group subsequently acquires any additional shares of WESCO's common stock. If a person or group acquires 10% or more (or, in the case of passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G, 15% or more) of WESCO's outstanding common stock, each right will entitle its holder (other than such person or members of such group) to purchase for $250, a number of WESCO's common shares having a market value of twice such price. In addition, at any time after a person or group acquires 10% or more (or, in the case of passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G, 15% or more) of WESCO's outstanding common stock (unless such person or group acquires 50% or more), WESCO's board of directors may exchange one share of the company's common stock for each outstanding right (other than rights owned by such person or group, which would have become void). Prior to the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 10% or more (or, in the case of passive investors filing statements on Schedule 13G, 15% or more) of the Company's common stock, the rights are redeemable for $0.001 per right at the option of the board."

06:47 EDT Ashland CEO says 'consumer business units performed particularly well' in Q3 - "Ashland's financial results in the third quarter demonstrate the strength of our specialty materials portfolio and the importance of the actions we are taking internally," said Guillermo Novo, chairman and CEO officer, Ashland. "Our priorities continue to be the health and safety of our employees and the continued supply of products to customers in the critical industries which we serve. Our consumer business units performed particularly well as we experienced significantly stronger demand for pharmaceutical excipients, biofunctional ingredients and additives for hand sanitizers. While our industrial businesses felt the impact of reduced global demand during April and May, the teams began to see signs of improving demand trends in June." "Our internal actions are also driving improvements to our cost structure and profitability," continued Novo. "The combined benefit of cost reductions, improved product mix and lower raw-material costs yielded Adjusted EBITDA growth of 2 percent during the quarter. Our cost-reduction plans for the year remain on track, and we plan to take $20 million to $30 million of the previously-disclosed inventory-control actions during the fiscal-fourth quarter. I am confident that these continued internal actions mean we are well positioned for the upcoming fiscal year. I look forward to discussing our results in more detail on the upcoming call with securities analysts."

06:32 EDT First Horizon reports Q2 CET1 ratio of 9.3%, up 72 bps from Q1

06:26 EDT Applied DNA Sciences, Takis report 'positive' results from LineaDNA candidates - Applied DNA Sciences announced that linear-DNA forms of COVID-19 vaccine candidates under development by partner Takis Biotech and manufactured by the company yielded strong antibody and T-cell responses even at very low doses of linear DNA, raising the potential of effective dosing empowering global utility. "We are pleased to report that all five LineaDNA vaccine candidates provoked seroconversion in mice with all animals producing IgG against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein by Day 14 and significantly enhanced responses by Day 38. These results are consistent with IgGs that in prior studies with plasmids were neutralizing in that they prevented the uptake of functional virus by host cells in culture," stated Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA. "We look forward to supporting further studies by Takis with a goal of entering human trials in early Autumn. We believe no single vaccine will provide the security we need as a global population, and that our LineaDNA vaccines will complement those already marching toward the market." Dr. Luigi Aurisicchio, Chief Executive and Scientific Officer of Takis Biotech, said, "Our results are very encouraging, and we have good reason for optimism. We must proceed with toxicology studies and move on to large animal studies as we march toward the clinic. We are now moving to engage third parties to help take us to market on the basis of these encouraging results."

06:22 EDT BlackRock CEO: Clients are turning to BlackRock more than ever before - Laurence Fink, Chairman and CEO: "Clients are turning to BlackRock more than ever before as they face increasing uncertainty about the future, and we are bringing together the entirety of our differentiated platform to help them. Clients are relying on BlackRock for our unique insights, guidance and comprehensive investment solutions. This is leading to deeper partnerships, and we're seeing clients entrust BlackRock with a greater share of their assets. BlackRock's globally integrated asset management and technology platform generated $100 billion of total net inflows in the second quarter, representing 10% annualized organic base fee growth. iShares fixed income ETFs and BlackRock's active equity strategies both saw record inflows, and leadership in cash solutions drove strength in flows as clients sought liquidity. Momentum also continued in sustainable strategies and illiquid alternatives, where we are investing for future growth. BlackRock's strong fiduciary culture is resonating in the depth of our relationships and the strength of our results. It is one of the key drivers of growth in our Aladdin technology business, and a critical reason why our Financial Markets Advisory team is working with governments around the world as they support their economies. Our steadfast focus is on serving all of our stakeholders through this crisis. I am honored by the trust that clients, governments and communities have placed in us, which we approach with a deep sense of responsibility. I am also incredibly proud of our employees, who have come together, even while working remotely, to partner with clients, uphold our One BlackRock culture and live our purpose."

06:17 EDT BlackRock reports Q2 AUM $7.32T, up 7% y/y

06:10 EDT Aslan Pharmaceuticals moves primary listing to Nasdaq - Aslan Pharmaceuticals announced further progress towards a primary listing on the Nasdaq Global Market and receipt of a Notice of Delisting from the Taipei Exchange, an expected step in the TPEx delisting process. The company will retain its listing of American Depositary Shares on Nasdaq in the United States and existing holders of ADS do not need to take any action as a result of this announcement. Aslan its ordinary shares to cease trading on TPEx on August 25, and TPEx regulations will cease to apply shortly thereafter. Holders of the company's ordinary shares can apply before September 25, to convert their shares into ADS and it is anticipated that the conversion will be completed before the end of October. Aslan is currently recruiting patients into the second of three dose cohorts of its Phase 1 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multiple ascending dose study of ASLAN004 in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Recruitment of patients into the study is expected to restart in August as restrictions put in place by the Singapore government to contain the spread of COVID-19 are gradually lifted. Sites in Australia and the U.S. are also preparing to come online to accelerate recruitment. The company expects to announce interim, unblinded data from the study in the fourth quarter of 2020.

06:03 EDT Molina Healthcare to acquire certain assets of Passport Health Plan for ~$20M - Molina Healthcare announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets related to the Medicaid and DSNP lines of business of Passport Health Plan. The purchase price for the transaction is approximately $20M, plus contingent consideration that is payable in 2021 based on Molina's Kentucky Health Plan's open enrollment results in 2020. Molina intends to fund the purchase with cash on hand. The acquisition of Passport allows Molina to enhance operational readiness and promote continuity of care for members in advance of Molina's new contract award in the Kentucky Medicaid market. The anticipated reduction in health plan startup costs and the positive margin impact from incremental revenue will allow Molina to recover the purchase price from positive cash flow within the first year following the acquisition. As part of the transaction, Molina will acquire the Passport name, a well-known brand in Kentucky, and will also extend continued career opportunities for approximately 500 Kentucky-based Passport and Evolent Health employees. Molina has agreed to operate the Passport Health Plan as soon as regulatory approval is obtained, with management and transition support services to be provided by Passport and its majority owner, Evolent Health, Inc., through the end of the 2020 calendar year. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2020.

06:01 EDT Regions Financial reports Q2 net interest margin 3.19% vs. 3.45% a year ago

05:09 EDT Apple opens new Apple Sanlitun in China - Apple will open the entirely new Apple Sanlitun, the next iteration of Apple's first store in China. Apple said in a release, "Sitting adjacent to the previous location on Taikoo Li's open square in Sanlitun, the brand new store is twice the size of the original and introduces several firsts for Apple in China. It is also opening with the same comprehensive health and safety procedures currently in place across all Apple Store locations for employees and visitors, including a mask requirement, temperature checks, and social distancing before entry and inside the store. The new store features many of Apple's latest retail design updates, including a Forum, Viewing Gallery, and Boardroom. The Forum will be the future home for Today at Apple, where the store will host some of Beijing's greatest artists, musicians, and creatives who will showcase and teach their process. The Viewing Gallery, situated within the grand upper level, offers a stunning vantage point for the lively outdoor square. Local businesses and entrepreneurs can get personal advice and guidance from the Apple team in the store's dedicated Boardroom. With more than double the space of the previous store dedicated to service and support, customers will have ample room to meet with a Genius or experience Today at Apple. Apple Sanlitun also features Apple's first integrated solar array in a retail store in China. The array will provide power to the store below, which, like all Apple facilities worldwide, runs exclusively on renewable energy. Apple is supporting enough clean energy in China to power more than 450,000 homes each year."