Stockwinners Market Radar for August 19, 2021 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:18 EDT Cirrus Logic CEO buys 6,500 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Cirrus Logic CEO John Forsyth disclosed the purchase of 6,500 common shares of the company on August 17 at a price of $79.71 per share.

19:16 EDT Franklin Resources CEO Johnson sells 52,789 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Franklin Resources president and CEO Jennifer Johnson disclosed the sale of 52,789 common shares of the company on August 19 at a price of $30.37 per share.

18:49 EDT Fiserv CEO: We have a great client franchise - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Frank Bisignano said Fiserv is investing heavily in technology and innovating in every vertical. When discussing ValueAct's recent $1.2B position in the company he said, "We're of the same mind as ValueAct and see the same path forward."

18:28 EDT Patria Investments announces divestment of Alliar - Patria Investments Limited, through its managed investment funds, announces an agreement for the full divestment of Centro de Imagem Diagnosticos S.A. by means of a private sale.

17:40 EDT Impel NeuroPharma CEO buys 20K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Impel NeuroPharma disclosed that its CEO Adrian Adams bought 20K share of common stock on August 18th in a total transaction size of about $270K. Shares of Impel NeuroPharma are up 5.3% in after-hour trading.

17:38 EDT Marin Software announces integration with Criteo's Commerce Media Platform - Marin Software (MRIN) announced an integration with Criteo's (CRTO) Commerce Media Platform. The integration will allow brands to easily manage and optimize both Criteo Marketing Solution and Retail Media campaigns-from display advertisements on the open web to promoted products on leading retailer websites-all within the MarinOne platform. Criteo will now offer Marin customers access to elements of its Commerce Media Platform, where they can activate and measure their advertising campaigns against the world's largest set of commerce data.

17:32 EDT Granite granted $25.7M airfield safety enhancement project for Tucson Airport - Granite has been awarded the DBB1 contract by the Tucson Airport Authority as part of their Airfield Safety Enhancements program at Tucson International Airport in Tucson, Arizona. This is the 14th project at TUS awarded to Granite in the past 10 years. The approximately $25.7M contract is anticipated to be included in Granite's Q3 committed and awarded projects. Scope of work includes the construction of the new bypass taxiway including pavement removal, earthwork, electrical, drainage, pavement markings, and landscaping. Projected start date on the project is October 2021, with completion expected in January 2023.

17:14 EDT GeoVax Labs presents COVID vaccine data to induce broader immunity - The company states: "GeoVax Labs presented data from ongoing studies of its preventive vaccine against COVID-19. The presentation titled, "Design of a Universal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Against Evolving Variants," was delivered virtually by Mark J. Newman, Ph.D., GeoVax's Chief Scientific Officer, during the European Society of Medicine (ESMED) General Assembly, being held August 19-21 in Berlin, Germany. First-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were rapidly developed and have proven highly efficacious in the human population and were designed to encode the prefusion stabilized Spike protein (S) with the goal of inducing high levels of neutralizing antibodies. However, potential limitations of narrowly focusing on S are becoming apparent with emerging variants that partially escape neutralization by vaccine induced antibodies. Thus, the effectiveness of these vaccines against new SARS-CoV-2 variants and future coronavirus spillover events remains in question. Using its novel Modified Virus Ankara - Virus Like Particle platform, GeoVax has developed a design strategy for vaccines expected to induce broader immunity through inclusion of multiple structural and nonstructural proteins from the target pathogen. The GV-MVA-VLP(TM) platform is known to elicit a balanced humoral and cellular response against a range of immunogens, possibly making immune escape against emerging variants less likely. Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike, membrane and envelope proteins by MVA supports the in vivo formation of virus like particles, or VLPs, which induce both antibody and T-cell responses. Incorporation of sequence-conserved nonstructural proteins can provide targets for T-cell responses to increase the breadth and function of vaccine-induced immune responses. This strategy provides the basis for generating a universal vaccine with augmented potential to alleviate the burden of disease caused by circulating coronaviruses." Shares of GeoVax are up 31% afterhours at $5.65.

17:12 EDT General Dynamics awarded $136.5M Navy contract - General Dynamics was awarded a $136.5M indefinitely-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the consolidation of all Tier 1 information technology help desks and transition them to the managed service provider, GDIT. GDIT will provide service desk as a service using a knowledge-based solution, employing artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics and natural language processing. FY21 operation and maintenance funds will be used for obligations at the task order level. Concurrent with the award, the first task order will be issued in order to satisfy the minimum guarantee of $5,000 per the terms and conditions of the contract. Funding will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Performance is expected to be completed by August 2025 if all options are exercised. This contract includes a one-year base ordering period and three one-year optional ordering periods, which if exercised, would bring the estimated cumulative value to $136.5M. Pursuant to the Other Transactions Authority of 10 U.S. Code 2371 for prototype projects, this contract is not competitively procured because this is a production contract following the successful completion of the OTA prototype effort that originated in 2019. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command is the contracting activity.

16:53 EDT Applied Materials says COVID-19 is a transitory challenge to supply chain - Says experienced strong broad-based demand for semiconductor products and services. Says COVID-19 is a transitory challenge to supply chain. Says there has never been a more exciting time for semiconductor companies. Says time to market acceleration is key to strategy. Says will outperform markets again this year. Says generated strongest revenue in company history in Q3. Says has over 4,300 connected tools. Comments taken from Q3 earnings conference call.

16:42 EDT American Water acquires village of Livingston water and wastewater systems. - Illinois American Water President Justin Ladner announced the company's acquisition of the Village of Livingston water and wastewater systems. The purchase adds approximately 375 water and 352 wastewater customers to the company's southern Illinois service area. Illinois American Water plans to invest approximately $3.3M in the first five years of ownership to upgrade the Village of Livingston water and wastewater systems. Work will include replacing fire hydrants, outdoor water meters, and water main. A new water tank will also be constructed. Upgrades to security and monitoring equipment are also planned.

16:33 EDT SunOpta provides further details on 'mega' plant-based beverage facility - SunOpta announced further details on its new plant-based beverage facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area. The new production facility, to be located in Midlothian, Texas, will initially be sized at 285,000 square feet, with the ability to be expanded to 400,000 square feet. When fully expanded, the new facility will be the largest plant in SunOpta's Plant-Based Foods and Beverages network. This new facility, which is expected to be operational in late 2022, will bring up to 185 new high paying manufacturing and management jobs to the community. The city of Midlothian and Ellis County have approved a package of incentives, including a grant that will be awarded by Midlothian Economic Development upon completion of the facility and commencement of operations, and an eight-year tax abatement for a combined value of approximately $7.5 million. The new facility's location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area will also further SunOpta's sustainability objectives, significantly reducing emissions through lower transportation usage. The facility will be operated pursuant to a 15-year lease, entered into on August 13, 2021, with customary extension options. The cost of the build-out of the facility is expected to be principally lease financed, with the manufacturing equipment expected to be primarily financed under SunOpta's existing delayed draw term loan, which was put in place in December 2020.

16:32 EDT Cerner names David Feinberg, M.D. as CEO, succeeding Brent Shafer - Cerner (CERN) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed David Feinberg, M.D., MBA, as President and CEO, effective October 1. He succeeds Brent Shafer, who previously announced his decision to transition from chairman and CEO. Dr. Feinberg will serve as a member of the Board of Directors. Cerner's current President, Donald Trigg, will leave Cerner. Cerner's Board of Directors also announced that it will separate the roles of chairman and CEO and has appointed William Zollars as independent chairman, also effective October 1. Dr. Feinberg has served in numerous senior leadership roles during his more than 25-year career in healthcare, and joins Cerner from Google (GOOG, GOOGL).

16:30 EDT Charles Schwab announces 5% pay hike for employees - The Charles Schwab Corporation today announced it is implementing a special five percent pay increase for employees "in recognition of their unwavering service to clients and each other throughout the pandemic." "Our teams' focus and dedication have resulted in outstanding results for our clients and growth for the company," said Walt Bettinger, President and CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation. "This increase is a way to reward our talented employees for their contributions and their relentless commitment to see the world through clients' eyes, even during the most challenging times." In a note to employees on Thursday, the company's Executive Council added, "You all have gone above and beyond to ensure our clients are well cared for, our culture remains strong, and our business remains sound under the most extraordinary circumstances. Thank you once more from all of us on the Executive Council for helping this company live up to its promise." This special increase will be applied to the vast majority of the company's employees, effective late September 2021. It will not include the company's Executive Council or colleagues participating in Schwab's incentive compensation plans. The firm also announced additional steps it is taking to address pandemic concerns and provide workplace flexibility for its employees going forward. In light of current circumstances, the firm has delayed a full Return to Office until January 2022, at the earliest. In the meantime, employees can continue to work from home, or return to the office on a voluntary basis. Once back in the office, Schwab employees will enjoy additional workplace flexibility, based on a hybrid work schedule. Employees will also have the ability to work with their manager to determine an approach that works for their individual situation, should they need additional flexibility.

16:30 EDT Dillard's increases cash dividend 33% to 20c per share - Dillard's declared a cash dividend of 20c per share on the Class A and Class B Common Stock of the company, representing a 5c increase from the prior 15c dividend. The dividend is payable November 1 to shareholders of record as of September 30.

16:23 EDT Sorrento says DYAI-100 elicits 'strong' neutralizing immune responses in animals - Sorrento Therapeutics released a preprint publication detailing preclinical vaccination studies of a new to-be-licensed and developed protein-based COVID-19 vaccination candidate, DYAI-100. The new RBD-based COVID-19 vaccination candidate demonstrated in preclinical studies the potential to elicit potent neutralizing B-cell immune responses against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and its emerging variants, including Beta and Delta. The generation of a protein-based vaccination candidate that provides protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and emerging VoCs has proved to be challenging. The publication reports the protective neutralizing activities of the sera of vaccinated animals against a broad spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its major VoCs by immunization with recombinant Spike protein receptor binding domain administered in conjunction with aluminum-phosphate adjuvant intramuscularly. Immunizing mice with RBD protein vaccine with simple aluminum-phosphate adjuvant led to the production of IgG antibodies recognizing the Spike protein of the prototype SARS-CoV-2 as well as the VoCs, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. RBD protein immunization induced to the activation of a Th1 polarization of CD4 positive T cells. Furthermore, RBD protein immunization produced IgG antibodies in vivo, which exerted high neutralizing activity against live SARS-CoV-2 and the highly transmissible VoCs, Beta and Delta, as well as Gamma to a lesser extent. Thus, DYAI-100 represents a promising COVID-19 vaccination candidate against COVID-19 that may potentially offer broad protective range against emerging VOCs of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

16:17 EDT Gilead's MMA for lenacapavir validated by EMA - Gilead Sciences announced that the company's Marketing Authorization Application for lenacapavir, an investigational, long-acting HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, has been fully validated and is now under evaluation with the European Medicines Agency. The proposed indication is for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, in combination with other antiretroviral(s), in adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection who are currently on a failing antiretroviral treatment regimen due to resistance, intolerance or safety considerations. The application will be reviewed by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use under the centralized licensing procedure for all 27 Member States of the European Union, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

16:11 EDT John B. Sanfilippo & Son names Frank Pellegrino CFO - John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. announced that Frank S. Pellegrino, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Treasurer of the company, will also be appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective August 20, 2021. As previously disclosed and in accordance with his succession plan, Michael J. Valentine stepped down from his role as Chief Financial Officer after the filing of the Form 10-K of the company for fiscal year 2021. Also consistent with his succession plan, Valentine remains the Group President and Secretary of the company and will continue as a director of the company.

16:07 EDT Marker Therapeutics awarded $13.1M grant from CPRIT - Marker Therapeutics received notice of a Product Development Research award totaling approximately $13.1M from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to support the company's Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead MultiTAA-specific T cell product MT-401. The CPRIT award is intended to support the adjuvant arm of the company's Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating MT-401 when given as an adjuvant therapy to patients with acute myeloid leukemia following a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The primary objectives of the adjuvant arm of the trial are to evaluate relapse-free survival after MT-401 treatment when compared with a randomized control group. In April 2020, the FDA granted Orphan Drug designation to MT-401 for the treatment of patients with AML following allogeneic stem cell transplant.

16:05 EDT Adobe to acquire Frame.io in $1.275B deal - Adobe announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Frame.io, a cloud-based video collaboration platform. With over a million users across media and entertainment companies, agencies, and global brands, Frame.io streamlines the video production process by enabling video editors and key project stakeholders to seamlessly collaborate using cloud-first workflows. Upon close, Frame.io co-founder and CEO Emery Wells and co-founder John Traver will join Adobe. Wells will continue to lead the Frame.io team, reporting to Scott Belsky. The transaction, valued at $1.275B, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, is expected to close during the fourth quarter of Adobe's 2021 fiscal year and is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Until the transaction closes, each company will continue to operate independently.

15:31 EDT Union Pacific, Progress Rail partner to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - Union Pacific (UNP) locomotives will be getting a boost of biodiesel fuel. Progress Rail, a Caterpillar (CAT) company, approved the use of up to 20% biodiesel blend in specific EMD locomotive series operated by the railroad. Previously, the locomotives were approved to operate at 5%. The updated fuel recommendation comes after testing high-horsepower locomotives, used for hauling freight long distances, and monitoring performance for things such as fuel consumption, as well as impact on engine oil and fuel filters. Progress Rail is currently undergoing additional testing and development.

14:11 EDT Luminar announces Munir Hafez joins company as CIO - Luminar Technologies (LAZR) announced the addition of four industry leaders to help enable its next phase of growth and execution. They bring a combined century of professional experience in the automotive and technology industries. "We're hyper focused on taking Luminar to the next level in this new phase of growth and execution. Each of our new leaders are at the top of their respective fields in the industry, and will be relentlessly driving Luminar towards series production as the new automotive safety and autonomy standard," said Luminar Founder and CEO, Austin Russell. Sardar Gautham joined Luminar to lead business operations and alignment, having most recently served as VP of Strategy and Execution at Waymo. Munir Hafez joins Luminar as Chief Information Officer, CIO, after serving as CIO at Aptiv (APTV) for their autonomous mobility group. Cheryl Zula joined Luminar to lead sourcing and supply chain after serving as a global supply chain and purchasing executive at Stellantis. Alex Vitale joined Luminar to lead corporate development and strategy, having previously served as a managing director and head of San Francisco for GCA, a boutique investment banking firm. Sardar Gautham, Vice President of Business Operations and Alignment: In this role, Sardar will help Luminar scale by driving cross-functional alignment and execution at velocity while also furthering a growth culture. Prior to Luminar, he served as head of hardware strategy & execution at Waymo, Google's autonomous driving technology company. He has successfully scaled three startup companies, and brings two decades of experience in the technical, program and functional management of breakthrough technology products. Before Waymo, he was the vice president of the program management office at Verb Surgical Inc., a medical device joint venture between J&J and Google. Before that, he served in executive roles at GE Healthcare. Gautham holds a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Madras and an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa. Munir Hafez, Chief Information Officer: Munir was appointed Luminar's Chief Information Officer, CIO, after serving as CIO for the autonomous mobility group at Aptiv, a global automotive technology company. Prior to that, he served two years as vice president of strategy and architecture at Aptiv, helping drive data analytics, enterprise architecture, innovation, vendor management and M&A globally. Before Aptiv, he held IT strategy roles at EY, Deloitte and PwC. Munir holds an M.S. in Engineering Management and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology.

13:49 EDT Activision says 'Call of Duty: Vanguard' to launch November 5 - Activision Blizzard said that, starting November 5, players will "turn the tides of war to experience World War II like never before" in the new game "Call of Duty: Vanguard." The game will launch alongside a "seamlessly integrated" new "Warzone" experience coming later this year. "Vanguard delivers the complete package to Call of Duty fans across Campaign, online Multiplayer and Zombies co-operative modes," the company said. "Players will witness the origins of Special Forces as they change the face of history, forming Task Force One in a sprawling World War II narrative campaign spanning the Eastern and Western fronts of Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. Multiplayer features 20 maps on day one at launch. While Zombies fans will experience a signature undead gameplay experience, marking a franchise-first Zombies crossover for Call of Duty." "Call of Duty: Vanguard" is available for pre-order now. The title is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 (SONY), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X S (MSFT), Xbox One, and PC via Battle.net starting November 5. The new "Call of Duty: Warzone" experience will release later this year.

13:33 EDT Fiserv up 3% to $117.55 after Bloomberg says ValueAct has built over $1B stake - Activist investor ValueAct has built up a $1.2B stake in Fiserv and is said to believe that the company's Clover unit is worth $30B-$45B, with the potential for its value to grow to $185B by 2024, according to Bloomberg.

13:00 EDT Astra CEO says authorized to conduct launches out of Kodiak with FAA license - Chris Kemp, the founder, Chairman and CEO of Astra, tweeted earlier: "Thrilled that @Astra now authorized to conduct launches out of Kodiak through 2026 with @FAA launch operator's license!" Reference Link

12:09 EDT FTC alleges in amended complaint Facebook pursued 'illegal buy-or-bury scheme' - The Federal Trade Commission confirms it has filed an amended complaint against Facebook in the agency's ongoing federal antitrust case. "The complaint alleges that after repeated failed attempts to develop innovative mobile features for its network, Facebook instead resorted to an illegal buy-or-bury scheme to maintain its dominance. It unlawfully acquired innovative competitors with popular mobile features that succeeded where Facebook's own offerings fell flat or fell apart. And to further moat its monopoly, Facebook lured app developers to the platform, surveilled them for signs of success, and then buried them when they became competitive threats. Lacking serious competition, Facebook has been able to hone a surveillance-based advertising model and impose ever-increasing burdens on its users." The FTC filed the amended complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, following the court's June 28 ruling on the FTC's initial complaint. The amended complaint includes additional data and evidence to "support the FTC's contention that Facebook is a monopolist that abused its excessive market power to eliminate threats to its dominance," the FTC said. "The FTC's Office of General Counsel carefully reviewed Facebook's petition to recuse Chair Lina M. Khan. As the case will be prosecuted before a federal judge, the appropriate constitutional due process protections will be provided to the company. The Office of the Secretary has dismissed the petition. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was 3-2," the agency stated. Reference Link

12:00 EDT Tuya falls -15.1% - Tuya is down -15.1%, or -$1.84 to $10.31.

12:00 EDT Bath & Body Works rises 7.4% - Bath & Body Works is up 7.4%, or $4.39 to $63.68.

12:00 EDT Macy's rises 15.5% - Macy's is up 15.5%, or $2.81 to $20.88.

11:54 EDT Cathie Wood says not invested in gig economy space, 'yet' - ARK Invest's Cathie Wood is speaking on CNBC.

11:49 EDT Robinhood does not need to raise funds, Cathie Wood says - ARK Invest's Cathie Wood is speaking on CNBC.

11:40 EDT Cathie Wood says energy sector 'in harm's way' due to technology - ARK Invest's Cathie Wood is speaking on CNBC.

11:06 EDT United Bancorp raises quarterly dividend to 14.75c per share - On August 18, 2021, the Board of Directors of United Bancorp declared a third quarter dividend payment of 14.75c per share for shareholders of record on September 10, 2021 with a payment date of September 20, 2021. This payment is greater than the regular cash dividends paid in the first and second quarters of the current year, which were 14.25c and 14.50c respectively. With this third quarter dividend payment and year-to-date, UBCP has paid total cash dividends of 53.50c, which is an increase of 10.75c, or 25%, over the amount paid during the same period the previous year. At the third quarter payment level, the regular cash dividend produces a forward yield of 4.14% based on the market value at the most recent quarter end.

11:03 EDT Schwazze announces Star Buds home delivery service in Colorado - Schwazze announces the launch of its cannabis product home delivery service to residences in the city of Aurora beginning today. Aurora home delivery service will start from its Star Buds Montview retail dispensary location at 10100 E. Montview Boulevard. Orders may be placed online at https://www.starbuds.us/colorado with an option to select home delivery services for those residing in the Aurora area. The delivery service is available to any personal residences located within the city limits of Aurora, in which the Star Buds Montview location currently serves. The launch of the delivery service from Star Buds Montview is the first phase of a home delivery offering for the Star Buds dispensaries in Colorado. The second phase, expected later this year, will include deliveries from the Star Buds Arapahoe location at 14655 E. Arapahoe Road, also based in Aurora.

11:01 EDT Ontrak notified by customer of intent not to continue program - In a regulatory filing, Ontrak disclosed that on August 18, 2021, the company was notified by a customer of their intent not to continue the program past December 31, 2021. "We believe the notification was for reasons specific to the customer's corporate shift in strategic direction, and is not reflective of the performance or value of the program generally. From the inception of the contract in July 2020, we have billed this customer approximately $42 million of the previously expected 3-year $90 million contract. We do not expect this decision to have a material negative impact on our previously stated revenue and margin expectations for FY 2021 and the decision does not materially change our existing outreach pool. We currently expect our diversified portfolio of remaining customers under existing contracts to contribute nearly $50 million of revenue in 2022, an increase of 62% from their expected 2021 contributions, and we believe our fast growing pipeline of national and regional health plans, providers, healthcare systems and employers will materially contribute to 2022 revenue. As of today, we have over $97 million of cash on hand and are in compliance with our debt covenants with Goldman Sachs, with whom we have maintained a strong relationship. We believe that the recently released Ontrak Treatment Effect Study showing statistically significant cost savings, improved utilization and return on investment, validates the continued efficacy of the Ontrak program and is resonating with current and potential customers. Our newly strengthened management team's investment in technology infrastructure, expanded product portfolio for multiple lines of business, and new care pathways, is expected to drive significant growth," the filing stated.

10:52 EDT CP 'applauds' KCS board action to adjourn stockholder meeting - Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) issued the following statement on the Kansas City Southern (KSU) Board of Directors' action to postpone its Aug. 19 special meeting of stockholders to Sept. 3: "By rightly postponing Thursday's meeting, the KCS Board of Directors appropriately will allow stockholders to have access to all the information needed before voting on the CN-KCS merger proposal, including the critical decision by the Surface Transportation Board on the Canadian National (CNI) proposed voting trust. Delaying the stockholder vote also means KCS stockholders won't become locked into a CN-KCS combination and then unable to consider other, better options like CP's Aug. 10 proposal, which remains outstanding. The STB has said it will issue its voting trust decision by Aug. 31. CP has urged the STB not to approve CN's proposed use of a voting trust because CP believes that the trust would be anti-competitive and not in the public interest. CP-KCS is the only true end-to-end Class 1 combination that serves the public interest 'preserving and enhancing' competition for customers and enabling a stronger North American rail network connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico. CP-KCS is a superior combination that has a path to approval and deal certainty for the KCS shareholders. CP also believes that once the STB rules on the CN voting trust proposal, the Aug. 10 CP offer ought to be deemed superior as the CP-KCS combination has regulatory certainty as a result of the STB's approval for CP's use of a voting trust."

10:14 EDT Grubhub, Yandex Self-Driving Group launch robot delivery tech at OSU - Grubhub (GRUB)and Yandex Self-Driving Group (YNDX) will roll out delivery via Yandex's robots at its first college campus - The Ohio State University. More than 60,000 hungry Buckeyes will be able to order their favorite foods from on-campus dining locations via the Grubhub app and have them delivered by one of 50 Yandex robots operating at the OSU campus in a fast and cost-effective way. The rovers operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Students can request robots to deliver food to every residence hall on campus as well as Thompson Library and Bricker Hall.

10:11 EDT United Airlines announces access to COVID testing locations through mobile app - United (UAL) customers can access even more COVID testing locations, including more than 3,000 new Walmart (WMT) and Albertson Companies (ACI) locations across the U.S., through the airline's website and mobile app in the Travel Ready Center. Customers can now easily book COVID-19 testing appointments at more than 3,800 total testing providers powered by Accenture technology and the CLX Health's TrustAssure network and have their results delivered within 4 to 48 hours of their test and directly submitted to United's website and mobile app to be reviewed for their flight.

10:05 EDT Kansas City Southern adjourns special meeting of stockholders until Sept. 3 - Kansas City Southern (KSU) announced that it has convened and adjourned the Special Meeting of Stockholders for KCS stockholders to vote on the previously announced definitive merger agreement with CN (CNI) and other proposals until 9:00 a.m., Central Time, on September 3, 2021. All stockholders of record of KCS common stock and KCS 4% non-cumulative preferred stock as of the close of business on July 1, 2021 will be entitled to vote their shares at the Special Meeting. CN and KCS' joint voting trust application is currently under review by the Surface Transportation Board. The company previously announced that if the STB had not released a public decision by August 17, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., Central Time, the Special Meeting would be adjourned to give all stockholders and the KCS Board time to receive and consider the STB decision. On August 10, 2021, the STB announced that it expects to issue a decision on the use of the CN voting trust no later than August 31, 2021. KCS and CN are confident that the voting trust meets all the standards and the public interest test set forth by the STB and believe that it should be approved. KCS stockholders will receive the merger consideration immediately upon the closing of the voting trust, which is also subject to receipt of KCS stockholder approval and Mexican regulatory approvals.

10:00 EDT Sibanye Stillwater falls -8.3% - Sibanye Stillwater is down -8.3%, or -$1.37 to $15.07.

10:00 EDT KE Holdings falls -14.1% - KE Holdings is down -14.1%, or -$2.83 to $17.16.

10:00 EDT Cano Health rises 8.2% - Cano Health is up 8.2%, or 81c to $10.73.

09:48 EDT Nano-X Imaging down after reporting request for additional information from FDA - Shares of Nano-X Imaging are down $1.08, or 5%, to $22.60 in early trading after the company disclosed in a regulatory filing earlier that on August 12, 2021, the company received a request for additional information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerning the company's last 510(k) submission of its multi-source device, Nanox.ARC. "The submission file is placed on hold pending a complete response to the FDA's list of deficiencies. The company's response is due within 180 days from the date of the request for additional information. The company plans to respond by the due date which is 180 days from the date of the request for additional information. The company expects to continue to optimize and develop further features of Nanox.ARC and is considering submitting an additional 510(k) application for the next version of multi-source Nanox.ARC during the fourth quarter of 2021, which will benefit from the FDA's feedback on the first version of the multi-source Nanox.ARC," the filing stated.

09:47 EDT Victoria's Secret falls -8.0% - Victoria's Secret is down -8.0%, or -$5.72 to $65.97.

09:47 EDT Cano Health rises 6.0% - Cano Health is up 6.0%, or 60c to $10.52.

09:47 EDT Huaneng Power rises 7.3% - Huaneng Power is up 7.3%, or $1.10 to $16.11.

09:35 EDT Bristol-Myers announces European Commission approval for Abecma - Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the European Commission has granted Conditional Marketing Authorization for Abecma, a first-in-class B-cell maturation antigen-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. "Abecma is the first and only CAR T cell therapy approved that is directed to recognize and bind to BCMA, a protein that is nearly universally expressed on cancer cells in multiple myeloma, leading to the death of BCMA-expressing cells.1 Abecma is delivered via a single infusion with a target dose of 420 x 106 CAR-positive viable T cells within a range of 260 to 500 x 106 CAR-positive viable T cells. Abecma is approved for use in all European Union member states," the company stated.

09:31 EDT Weedmaps announces multiyear partnership with Kevin Durant, Thirty Five Ventures - Weedmaps announced a multi-year agreement with Kevin Durant and Thirty Five Ventures as well as a sponsorship deal with Boardroom. The company said in a statement: "As part of Weedmaps' mission to power a transparent and inclusive global cannabis economy, this strategic partnership will aim to further deconstruct the negative stereotypes associated with cannabis while elevating the conversation around the plant's potential for athlete wellness and recovery." Weedmaps will become an official sponsor of Thirty Five Ventures' sports business media network, Boardroom, as part of the agreement. In addition to its sponsorship agreement, Boardroom will collaborate with Weedmaps to produce an original content series, which is tentatively slated for debut in 2022.

09:30 EDT Crackle Plus signs branded entertainment deal with APX Content Ventures - Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced that Crackle Plus has partnered with APX Content Ventures, a division of Publicis Media, to serve as the co-production and brand-integration partner for the new Crackle original interview series, Inside the Black Box. Produced by Landmark Studio Group, Inside the Black Box is hosted by esteemed acting coach Tracey Moore, and multi-award-winning veteran television, film, and stage actor Joe Morton, Inside the Black Box is slated to begin production on 10 one-hour episodes in October with an anticipated Q1 2022 premiere date, exclusively on Crackle.

09:26 EDT Kohl's plans to repurchase $500M-$700M of shares in 2021

09:16 EDT Kohl's CEO notes 'very successful' launch of Sephora digital experience

09:15 EDT Kohl's to pilot self return, self pickup this fall

09:11 EDT Leslie's appoints James Ray to board of directors - Leslie's announced that it has appointed James R. Ray, Jr. to its Board of Directors. He recently retired from Stanley Black & Decker in November 2020 as President, Global Engineered Fastening Business Unit after joining the company in 2013 and serving in various leadership roles.

09:10 EDT Heat Biologics announces new addition to biothreat advisory board - Heat Biologics announces the following additions to its newly formed Biothreat Advisory Board: Andrew Weber, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs; and Dr. Gregory Koblentz, Associate Professor at George Mason University and leading expert on chemical and biological weapons. These individuals join David Lasseter, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Former US Representative Jack Kingston, who also serves as the Secretariat of the Alliance for Biosecurity. Andy Weber is a Senior Fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks' Janne Nolan Center on Strategic Weapons. Dr. Gregory D. Koblentz is an Associate Professor and Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government.

09:09 EDT Kohl's: Digital sales increased 35% vs. 2Q19 - Says Q2 overall sales "exceeded expectations." Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

09:08 EDT Penn Virginia announces increased borrowing base - Penn Virginia Corporation announced an increase to the Company's borrowing base under its revolving credit facility pursuant to its regularly scheduled fall redetermination. Upon closing of the merger with Lonestar Resources US and subject to the terms of the amendment, Penn Virginia's borrowing base under its revolving credit facility will increase to $600 million with aggregate elected commitments of $400 million. The Lonestar merger is expected to close in the second half of 2021.

09:06 EDT Verizon explores Quantum Safe VPNs for hacker protection - Verizon is testing how a Quantum Safe Virtual Private Network can enhance protection of data today in order to thwart hackers in the future. As quantum computers become more advanced, they will have the potential to break today's public key encryption ciphers. Theoretically, hackers could capture data riding on networks today and store it until quantum computers have the power to break the encryption. It's a little like stealing a bank safe today and holding on to it until someone discovers how to pick the lock. Verizon, and others, believe the key to safeguarding information will be a Quantum Safe VPN. This technology uses session key exchange security mechanisms or cryptographic ciphers that can provide a higher level of protection. Essentially, it's a solution that enhances encryption methodologies today in order to make them even more difficult to hack tomorrow. In a recent trial, Verizon successfully tested how a Quantum Safe VPN can replace the current public key encryption methods to establish encryption keys using Post Quantum Cryptography. Keys or ciphers were exchanged between two private 5G networks located in Verizon's 5G Lab in London and its Executive Briefing Center in Ashburn, VA. The goal of this trial was to demonstrate that early adoption of PQC could prepare today's data from tomorrow's attacks. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology is working on a global effort to find PQC algorithms that will be fast and trustworthy, but finalization and integration of the NIST PQC standards may take many years. In the meantime, tests like this demonstrate it is possible to implement NIST PQC cryptography candidates on infrastructure links now with the ability to easily migrate as needed between the different PQC candidates.

09:05 EDT Comtech gets contract with a Canadian tier-one mobile network operator - Comtech Telecommunications announced that during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, it was awarded a contract with a Canadian tier-one mobile network operator to supply 5G location services. Comtech is honored to announce this further international expansion of our 5G service offerings. We continue to expand our 5G footprint globally in support of the larger capacity and faster speeds it provides to end users, supporting innovation in public safety and other businesses," said Fred Kornberg, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunication.

09:04 EDT Sorrento Therapeutics's Scilex announces expansion of Ztildo care coverage - Scilex, a subsidiary of Sorrento Therapeutics, announced that, effective September 1, 2021, ZTlido 1.8% has been added to multiple formularies, including two national PBMs, a national health plan and two regional health plans - thereby expanding coverage by up to 33M lives. ZTlido is indicated for relief of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia, also referred to as post-shingles pain. "With this expansion, up to 65% of lives nationally have covered or better access to ZTlido, with a reduction in need for prior authorization," said Jaisim Shah, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scilex Holding Company. "ZTlido provides fast and significant PHN pain relief that can be sustained over time - without the trade-offs associated with other widely used options, notably impaired cognition and weight gain, and analgesic tolerance and risk of addiction. 1-4 In fact, ZTlido can be used in combination to optimize gabapentinoids by delivering additive, remarkable pain relief without adding to systemic adverse events - and the combination has the potential to reduce the use of opioids."

09:03 EDT FuboTV Acquires exclusive Serie A and Coppa Italia rights for Canada - fuboTV that it has acquired the exclusive rights for Coppa Italia and the exclusive English language rights for Serie A in Canada. The two new multi-year agreements bolster fuboTV's leading position as the premier soccer streaming platform in Canada with top-tier soccer content along with other linear sports and entertainment channels. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Coppa Italia agreement includes a minimum of 41 live matches per season from the annual Italian cup competition plus the Supercoppa Italiana. All matches will stream exclusively in Canada on fuboTV. fuboTV's coverage is in partnership with sports marketing agency S&T Sports Group. fuboTV will also be the exclusive English language home of Italy's Serie A, one of the world's top soccer leagues, in Canada. The agreement has been brokered by Infront, the exclusive international media rights partner of Lega Serie A in Canada. Serie A consists of 380 matches annually with fuboTV's coverage beginning August 21.

09:02 EDT Guidewire acquires HazardHub, terms undisclosed - Guidewire has acquired HazardHub, an insurtech provider of API-driven property risk insights to the P&C insurance industry. HazardHub powers decisions for 110+ organizations, including insurers, reinsurers, brokers, MGAs, and other insurtechs. Insurers use HazardHub to underwrite with confidence, micro-segment rating zones and manage risks. HazardHub's team of geographic information systems, or GIS, data engineering, data science, hazard specialists, and technology veterans have 100+ years of combined experience creating, modeling, and deploying large geospatial databases.

09:02 EDT Wynn Resorts integrating Wynn Rewards program into online betting platforms - WynnBET's Wynn Rewards program is being integrated into its online platforms. Through this customer experience driven program, WynnBET and Wynn Resorts patrons will be able to earn rewards through mobile, desktop and on-property play. WynnBET players can choose whether they prefer to redeem rewards for online play or hotel room stays, meals and in-person experiences as well as on-property play at Wynn & Encore Las Vegas and Encore Boston Harbor.

08:57 EDT Xcel Energy announces Bob Frenzel as CEO, Tim O'Connor as COO - Xcel Energy announced that Bob Frenzel has been appointed president and CEO of the company. Ben Fowke, the current chairman and CEO will remain at Xcel Energy as executive chairman of the Board of Directors. Tim O'Connor was also named executive vice president and chief operations officer. Bob Frenzel, President & CEO, "I am humbled and honored today to take over as CEO of Xcel Energy. It's been a privilege to work alongside Ben for the last five years. I am grateful for his leadership, vision and careful stewardship of this great company. This is an exciting time to be in the energy industry, and I look forward to leading us into the future with a focus on our strategic priorities, including being an agile and innovative company and our commitment to elevating the customer experience," said Frenzel. Frenzel joined Xcel Energy as chief financial officer in 2016, leading the company's finance, tax, accounting and corporate development functions, as well as its subsidiary companies. He was named president and chief operating officer in March 2020, where he oversaw Xcel Energy's four operating companies, along with its transmission, distribution and natural gas operations.

08:55 EDT Deere, Hitachi Construction Machinery to end joint venture agreements - John Deere announced it has agreed with Hitachi Construction Machinery to end the Deere-Hitachi joint venture manufacturing and marketing agreements. John Deere and Hitachi will enter into new license and supply agreements, which will enable John Deere to continue to source, manufacture, and distribute the current lineup of Deere-branded excavators in the Americas. As a result of the new agreements, the following changes will go into effect on Feb. 28, 2022, contingent upon regulatory approval. John Deere will acquire the Deere-Hitachi joint-venture factories in Kernersville, NC; Indaiatuba, Brazil; and Langley, British Columbia, Canada. John Deere will continue to manufacture Deere-branded construction and forestry excavators currently produced at the three Deere-Hitachi factories. These locations will discontinue production of Hitachi-branded excavators. John Deere will continue to offer a full portfolio of excavators through a supply agreement with Hitachi. John Deere's marketing arrangement for Hitachi-branded construction excavators and mining equipment in the Americas will end; Hitachi will assume distribution and support for these products. The agreement is subject to the receipt of certain required regulatory approvals as well as certain other customary closing conditions.

08:40 EDT DXC Technology announces Chris Drumgoole as COO - DXC Technology announced that Chris Drumgoole has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer reporting to Mike Salvino, DXC President and CEO, effective immediately. Drumgoole joined DXC as Chief Information Officer n March of 2020.

08:36 EDT German education product provider selects Bridgeline's NLP site search - Bridgeline Digital announced today that a top distributor of education supplies in Germany had selected Bridgeline's site search software to ease the customer journey through their extensive catalog. The distributor signed a three-year agreement valued at approximately $100,000 to deploy Bridgeline NLP Site Search on its B2B eCommerce site that services Germany's school systems.

08:35 EDT Medirom Healthcare reports 314 salons in July - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies announced its major Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, updated for the month of July 2021. Data is provided for all salons for which comparative financial and customer data is available and excludes certain salons where such information is not available. The following monthly KPIs provide insight into the business fundamentals and progress of the Company, updated for the month of July 2021. The number of salons was 314 in July 2021, up from 288 in the year-ago period, primarily as a result of the acquisition of another brand in May 2021. Total customers served were 70,912 in July 2021 versus 60,964 in July 2020, a 14.6% increase due to a recovery from the COVID-19 impact. This is the largest number of total customers served we have ever recorded in a single month. Sales per customer increased to JPY 6,498 in July 2021, up from JPY6,276 in July 2020. The increase is attributed to the upselling of value-added optional services. Our repeat ratio, a measure of repeat customers, was 81.0% in July 2021, almost no change from July 2020. Our operation ratio recovered from the COVID-19 impact to 48.1% in July 2021, increasing from 43.3% in the year-ago period.

08:34 EDT Zealand Pharma announces first patient dosed in Phase 3b trial of glepaglutide - Zealand Pharma announced dose administration for the first subject in the Phase 3b trial, EASE-SBS 4, evaluating glepaglutide, the company's long-acting GLP-2 analog, which is being investigated as a potential treatment option for short bowel syndrome. "SBS is a debilitating disease with limited current treatment options," said Adam Steensberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Zealand Pharma. "We are committed to making a difference for people living with SBS and, as such, our goal with glepaglutide is to reduce the need for parenteral support so that patients can achieve nutritional goals through the course of everyday activities. This particular trial has been designed to assess the long-term direct effects of glepaglutide on intestinal fluid and energy uptake." EASE-SBS 4 is an open-label single-center Phase 3b trial investigating the long-term effect on intestinal absorption, nutritional status and long-term safety of administration of glepaglutide in patients with short bowel syndrome. This trial is part of Zealand's EASE-SBS Phase 3 program for glepaglutide.

08:33 EDT Macy's has seen 'strong' start to back-to-school season, CEO says

08:32 EDT Monmouth confirms receipt of unsolicited acquisition proposal from Starwood - Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation (MNR) confirmed that it has received a revised, unsolicited acquisition proposal from Starwood Capital Group. Under the terms of Starwood's revised proposal, its affiliate Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. would acquire 100% of the outstanding equity of Monmouth for net cash consideration of approximately $19.20 per share of Monmouth common stock. This reflects a stated per share purchase price of $19.93 per share, reduced by the termination fee that would be payable by Monmouth to Equity Commonwealth (EQC), or EQC, of approximately $72 million, or $0.73 per share, if Monmouth terminates the amended merger agreement it previously entered into with EQC in accordance with its terms to accept the new Starwood proposal. On August 16, 2021, Monmouth and EQC announced that they had entered into an amendment to their previously announced definitive merger agreement pursuant to which EQC has agreed to acquire Monmouth for $19.00 per share, based on EQC's closing price of $26.65 per share on August 13, 2021, in a combination of cash and stock at the election of Monmouth shareholders. The EQC transaction is valued at approximately $3.4 billion, including the assumption of $857 million of mortgage debt and the repayment of the $550 million of Monmouth's 6.125% Series C Redeemable Preferred Stock and Monmouth's outstanding line of credit and term loan. Consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, Monmouth's Board of Directors is evaluating Starwood's revised, unsolicited proposal and has not made any determination as to what action to take in response at this time. Monmouth's Board of Directors intends to respond to the proposal in due course and remains committed to acting in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

08:32 EDT Ternium in MoU with Vale to find fix on cutting CO2 emissions in steel making - Ternium (TX) has signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with Vale (VALE) in which both agreed to pursue opportunities to develop steelmaking solutions focused on reducing CO2 emissions. Ternium and Vale intend to develop economic feasibility studies of potential investments in (i) an iron ore briquetting plant located at Ternium Brasil facility; and plants to produce metallic products with low carbon footprint, using Tecnored, HYL and other technologies for iron reduction. This initiative contributes to achieving Vale's commitment to reduce 15% of net Scope 3 emissions by 2035. Additionally, Vale seeks to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 33% by 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement, leading the evolution process towards low carbon mining. Mr. Maximo Vedoya, Ternium's Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Eduardo Bartolomeo, Vale's Chief Executive Officer, attended the MoU signing ceremony on August 18th. As per his speech, Mr. Bartolomeo affirmed "This is an important milestone in our roadmap to provide low carbon solutions to the steel industry and we are glad to engage with Ternium on this journey. We are making progress with our commitment to Society and to the Paris Agreement's targets, supported by innovative technologies, a high-quality, world-class portfolio of iron ore, critical to the low-carbon transition. We are well-positioned to lead the path to reduce Scope 3 emissions as we support the decarbonization of the steelmaking industry through joint initiatives with our clients."

08:30 EDT Inovalon trading resumes

08:28 EDT Esports Technologies files patent for AI-powered odds modeling system - Esports Technologies has filed a provisional patent application for a technology that uses artificial intelligence to generate odds models for use in a betting algorithm for esports tournaments and various stages of a tournament. The system uses machine learning and advanced quantitative methods to generate odds instantly for any number of esports match and tournament types, as well as for different stages of the match or tournament for proposition bets, and a variety of betting markets. The filing contemplates a system where bettors can wager on teams throughout a tournament and while games are being played. Examples of bets that could be made with this technology include which team will place in the top three, or outside the top five, or what round the team will make it to.

08:26 EDT Macy's cites supply chain constraints, tight labor market as ongoing headwinds

08:24 EDT Hancock Jaffe Laboratories presents two-year post-VenoValve implantation data - Hancock Jaffe Laboratories announced that two-year post-VenoValve implantation data is being presented at the Society for Vascular Surgery, or SVS, annual meeting in San Diego. Reflux, the backwards flow of blood, decreased from an average of 1.95 to an average of .72, a 63% improvement. Disease manifestations decreased from an average of 13.38 to an average of 5.38. Pain decreased from an average of 7.25 to an average of .50, an improvement of 93%. There were no safety issues or venous ulcer recurrences. The data reported is for a group of eight patients that participated in the VenoValve first-in-human study and who agreed to participate in a one-year post study follow-up. Three additional first-in-human patients elected to not participate in the one-year post study follow-up, but reported no negative VenoValve-related events during the one-year follow-up period. The average post-VenoValve implantation time for this cohort of patients is two years, and the comparative results are based on pre-VenoValve levels compared to the patients' most recent office visit.

08:17 EDT Falco Resources confirms receipt of Stream Advance Payment - Falco Resources (FPRGF) announced that it has received payment from Osisko Gold Royalties (OR) of the stream payment advance of C$10M, which as previously announced corresponds to an advance of half of the C$20M second instalment payable by Osisko under its silver stream agreement with the Company. The Stream Advance Payment will be used for the development of the Horne 5 Project and for general corporate purpose.

08:15 EDT Xeris Pharmaceuticals announces three new formulation technology patents granted - Xeris Pharmaceuticals announced that it has recently been granted three new patents relating to its formulation technology platforms. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted U.S. Patent Nos. 10,987,399 and 11,020,403 to Xeris, and the China Intellectual Property Office granted Chinese Patent No. ZL201580042185.5 to Xeris. The US '399 patent covers storage-stable formulations of pramlintide, and the US '403 patent covers storage-stable formulations of benzodiazepines, both using Xeris' proprietary XeriSol formulation technology. The Chinese '185.5 patent covers pre-filled syringes containing a variety of active pharmaceutical ingredients, using Xeris' proprietary XeriJect(TM) technology. These patents, and related patent applications that are pending in these and other patent offices around the world, also cover the uses of such products in treating a variety of diseases and disorders including diabetes. "Our strategy as a platform company is to patent early and often to continue to strengthen our position as a product development and formulation company. These new patent grants represent a significant expansion of Xeris' intellectual property portfolio and help us to continue to invest in our innovation into life-saving therapies that can benefit patients worldwide," said Paul R. Edick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xeris Pharmaceuticals. "With the recent opening of our Research & Development center in Chicago, led by our Chief Scientific Officer and Xeris co-founder Dr. Steve Prestrelski, we anticipate that we will continue to develop and bring to the market novel solutions for treating and preventing a variety of human diseases and disorders, improving the quality of life for our patients and their families." The granting of these patents expands the size of Xeris growing patent portfolio, bringing the total number of patents granted to Xeris worldwide to 121 . In addition to these new patent grants, Xeris has 120 patent applications pending worldwide, and expects to receive patent grants on several of those pending applications within the next several months. These patent grants, which provide Xeris the right to exclude others from making, selling, and using its proprietary technologies, will provide patent protection to Xeris on its proprietary pharmaceutical products for at least the next decade. All patents are owned by Xeris.

08:14 EDT Solid Biosciences appoints Michael Inbar as SVP, finance - Solid Biosciences (SLDB) announced that Michael Inbar, CPA, MBA, has joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Finance, effective August 16, 2021. Most recently, he served as VP, Accounting and Corporate Controller at Syros Pharmaceuticals (SYRS), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of medicines to treat rare diseases and cancer, where he was responsible for all aspects of the accounting and finance operations.

08:13 EDT Macy's announces omnichannel partnership with Toys"R"Us - Macy's earlier announced a partnership with WHP Global to bring together Macy's and Toys"R"Us. Toys"R"Us kids of all ages can now shop an expansive assortment online and in more than 400 Macy's stores nationwide rolling out in 2022. "As a Toys"R"Us kid, I could not be more excited to bring this beloved brand that so many of our customers know and love into Macy's online and to our stores across America," said Nata Dvir, Macy's chief merchandising officer. "Our toy business grew exponentially in the past year, with many families looking to inspire their children's imagination and create meaningful moments together. Toys"R"Us is a globally recognized leader in children's toys and our partnership allows Macy's to significantly expand our footprint in that category, while creating more occasions for customers to shop with us across their lifestyles."

08:12 EDT Macy's, WHP Global team to offer Toys"R"Us products online - Macy's announced a partnership with WHP Global to bring together two of America's most beloved brands, Macy's and Toys"R"Us. Toys"R"Us kids of all ages can now shop an expansive assortment online from the most globally recognized leader in toys at macys.com/toysrus and in more than 400 Macy's stores nationwide rolling out in 2022. Macy's and WHP Global partner to bring universally beloved Toys"R"Us brand back to American shoppers. "As a Toys"R"Us kid, I could not be more excited to bring this beloved brand that so many of our customers know and love into Macy's online and to our stores across America," said Nata Dvir, Macy's chief merchandising officer. "Our toy business grew exponentially in the past year, with many families looking to inspire their children's imagination and create meaningful moments together. Toys"R"Us is a globally recognized leader in children's toys and our partnership allows Macy's to significantly expand our footprint in that category, while creating more occasions for customers to shop with us across their lifestyles."

08:09 EDT Mobivity's Trusted Redemption Technology awarded patent - Mobivity Holdings announced that the United States Patent & Trademark Office has awarded Mobivity's Trusted Redemption technology U.S. Patent 10,949,868, allowing brick and mortar brands to accurately accept and track omnichannel coupon redemptions at the point of sale without requiring POS system integration. Available via its SmartMessage and Unified Offers solutions, Mobivity's patented Trusted Redemption technology enables marketers to tie every text, email, push notification, broadcast and social media offer and message to an in-store transaction, which enables precise calculation of return on marketing spend. Built-in capabilities for capturing date, time, location and offer in real-time enables a seamless guest experience while providing accurate promotion attribution and preventing coupon fraud and abuse.

08:08 EDT Jowell Global announces partnership with Suzhou Wujiang Hope Bio-Technology - Jowell Global announced that the company is developing a cooperative relationship with Hope Bio-Technology and has signed a strategic partnership agreement with its affiliate, Suzhou Wujiang Hope Bio-Technology. Pursuant to the Agreement, the parties will cooperate in research and development of new immune cell-technologies for skincare products, cosmetics, and health and nutritional supplements, with a focus on in-depth collaboration in the cutting-edge cellular technology. Zhiwei Xu, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Jowell Global, commented: "With this partnership, Hope Bio-Tech will be conducting research and development on cell technologies for the skincare products, cosmetics, and health and nutritional supplements, utilizing its biotech, immune-cell, and stem cell R&D teams to efficiently develop and launch a new generation of skincare products with cell-related technology for the Company. The partnership with Hope Bio-Tech will help us expand into high-end cosmetic products market. We firmly believe that bio cell technology in skincare and cosmetic products will provide our customers top quality product experience and effective results."

08:07 EDT SAIC awarded $664M in intelligence and space contracts - Science Applications International has secured $664M in fiscal year 2022 second quarter contract awards by space and intelligence community organizations, including a program providing digital and systems engineering solutions for intelligence and defense agencies worth $355M. Most of these contracts serve customers in the intelligence community and classified space domain that rely on SAIC for highly-specialized expertise in digital engineering as well as cloud, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technology integration, engineering, IT modernization and mission operations. This quarterly total also includes a previously-announced $90M award by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle and Management Center, Force Protection Division to help the U.S. Department of Defense Combatant Commands mitigate small unmanned aircraft systems threats and protect U.S. forces. "These awards underscore the confidence our customers hold in SAIC," said Michael LaRouche, president of SAIC's National Security and Space Sector. "We are a recognized leader in delivering solutions across government and feel privileged to support these intelligence and classified space community missions. We look forward to continuing to help our customers harness the power of digital engineering, cloud, AI, cybersecurity innovation and more with new ideas, bold objectives, and innovative solutions to meet their extremely complex challenges."

08:06 EDT Chipotle tests plant-based chorizo in select markets - Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its latest menu innovation, Plant-Based Chorizo, is in test in Denver and Indianapolis. Plant-Based Chorizo is the brand's first new plant-based protein option since the debut of Sofritas in 2014.

08:05 EDT Docebo to open new office in Munich - Docebo announced it will open a new office in Munich, Germany to bolster the growing international demand for its learning technology suite. The company said with continued plans for growth, the increased presence in the German market positions the company to spearhead localized support for German-speaking regions, including Switzerland and Austria.

08:05 EDT Valaris announces CEO Tom Burke will step down, Dibowitz succeeds as interim - Valaris announced that Mr. Tom Burke will step down from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective September 2, 2021. The Valaris Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Anton Dibowitz, a current Board member, as interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 3. Mr. Burke will continue to support Valaris for a period to ensure a smooth leadership transition for the Company. He also will remain on the Board of Directors of ARO Drilling, a 50/50 joint venture between Valaris and Saudi Aramco. Further, Valaris announced that Mr. Jon Baksht will step down from his position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective September 2, 2021. The Valaris Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Darin Gibbins, the Company's Vice President - Investor Relations and Treasurer, as interim Chief Financial Officer effective September 3.

08:03 EDT Applied Industrial Technologies acquires R.R. Floody - Applied Industrial Technologies announced it has acquired R.R. Floody, a provider of automation products, services, and engineered solutions focused on machine vision, mobile and collaborative robotics, motion control, material handling, and digital capabilities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

08:03 EDT Inovalon to be acquired by equity consortium led by Nordic Capital for $7.3B - Inovalon announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an equity consortium led by Nordic Capital, and joined by Insight Partners, as lead co-investor, 22C Capital, and Inovalon founder and CEO Keith Dunleavy, M.D. and certain Class B stockholders of Inovalon in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $7.3B. Under the terms of the agreement, Inovalon stockholders will receive $41.00 per share in cash for each share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, representing a 25.3% premium over the closing price of Inovalon Class A Common Stock on July 26, 2021, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 24.4% premium over the volume-weighted average price of the Company's shares over the 30 trading days leading up to the unaffected trading day. The independent members of the Inovalon Board of Directors, acting on the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of independent directors that led the consideration of alternatives and the negotiation of the terms of the transaction, unanimously approved the agreement, which is subject to a number of customary conditions, including a vote of each of the Class A and Class B stockholders voting separately. In addition, the transaction is subject to approval by a majority of the voting power of the Class A and Class B stockholders voting together as a single class, excluding Dr. Dunleavy, certain other Class B stockholders who are providing equity capital for the transaction and their affiliates. Dr. Dunleavy was not a member of the Special Committee and recused himself from all relevant Board discussions and from the Board vote regarding the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Inovalon will become a private company with greater flexibility to focus on strategies that drive innovation and global market development. Keith Dunleavy, M.D., will continue to be a substantial shareholder in the Company, serve on the Board of Directors, lead Inovalon as CEO, and the Company will maintain its headquarters in Bowie, Maryland. The Inovalon Board of Directors formed a Special Committee composed entirely of independent and disinterested directors to conduct a thorough review of strategic alternatives. The Special Committee led negotiations with the assistance of independent financial and legal advisors. Following the Special Committee's unanimous recommendation, the independent members of the Inovalon Board unanimously approved the merger agreement with an entity established by the equity consortium led by Nordic Capital and co-led by Insight Partners, and recommend that Inovalon stockholders adopt and approve the merger agreement and the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in late 2021 or early 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the stockholder approvals described above and the receipt of U.S. antitrust approval. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.

08:02 EDT ATIF Holdings announces 5 for 1 reverse stock split - ATIF Holdings announced that on August 12, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse stock split of its authorized, issued and outstanding ordinary shares, par value 0.1c per share, at a ratio of 5-for-1 so that every five shares currently authorized and issued is combined into one share. Shareholders otherwise entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Split will receive a whole share in lieu of such fractional share. In connection with the Reverse Split, a vote of the shareholders of the Company is not required and as such, no shareholder vote or meeting of shareholders will be held. The Reverse Split will be effected by filing amendments to the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands. The Company intends to file the amendments with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands on August 27, 2021, and it is anticipated that the ordinary shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on August 30, 2021. The Company is effecting the Reverse Split in order to maintain its listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market. As previously disclosed, on July 26, 2021, the Company received notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that the Company is not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Both before and after the Reverse Split, the Company is and will be authorized to issue 100,000,000 ordinary shares and per share par value will be 0.5c. As a result of the Reverse Split, the Company's issued and outstanding ordinary shares will be reduced from 45,806,952 to approximately 9,161,390.

08:01 EDT Leidos selected by NASA for lifecycle mission support - Leidos was awarded the Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services 2 - FILMSS 2 - contract by NASA to provide program, science, engineering, operations and project management support at the agency's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. The single award cost-plus fixed-fee and indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract holds an approximate value of $270M. It includes a two-year base period and three one-year options. As the FILMSS 2 prime contractor, Leidos will perform essential activities that enable Ames' high-end research. This support will include program management, mission implementation, instrument development and collaborative technology advancement for Ames' virtual institutes. Ames is one of ten NASA field centers.

08:00 EDT NLS Pharma gets Notice of Allowance from USPTO for mazindol use in ADD/ADHD - NLS Pharmaceutics announces that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent application No. 16/083,131. When the patent issues, it will cover oral formulations containing immediate-release and sustained-release layers of mazindol and their use in the treatment of attention deficit disorders, ADD or ADHD, related deficit of alertness or decline in vigilance, or excessive daytime sleepiness, like narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia. A Notice of Allowance is issued after the USPTO makes a determination that a patent should be granted from an application. The patent, which is expected to be issued in the fourth quarter of 2021, will have a term that expires no earlier than March 2037. Based on its current clinical development plans to obtain regulatory approval, NLS would promptly list the patent in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, or Orange Book if it receives market approval.

07:47 EDT Sonnet BioTherapeutics up nearly 100% at $1.47 in pre-market trading - Shares of Sonnet BioTherapeutics (SONN) are up 97.3% at $1.47 in pre-market trading. Note that Coherus Biosciences (CHRS), which is also involved in developing treatment of advanced squamous or non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, is also up 10% in pre-market trading after announcing a 'positive' interim results in phase 3 trial evaluating toripalimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment.

07:37 EDT FirstService Onsite acquires Complete DKI, Moore Restoration - FirstService announced that its subsidiary, First Onsite Property Restoration, has recently acquired Complete DKI and Moore Restoration. Terms of the two transactions were not disclosed. Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, Complete is a provider of disaster restoration services in the Florida Panhandle region. Complete's three offices provide emergency and catastrophe response, construction services, environmental services, and fire, smoke and water damage repair to a broad range of commercial and insurance clients. Moore, founded in 1997 and based in Indianapolis, is a commercial restoration services firm in the central Indiana region. Moore has developed a particularly strong reputation and expertise as a leading provider of infectious control and disinfection services to hospitals and a wide range of other healthcare clients across the Midwest U.S.

07:35 EDT Otonomy appoints Jill Broadfood to board of directors - Otonomy announced the appointment of Jill Broadfoot to its board of directors. Since 2018, Broadfoot has served as chief financial officer of aTyr Pharma.

07:34 EDT WestStar adopts nCino to improve customer experience - nCino announced that $2.5B-asset WestStar Bank is now live on the nCino Bank Operating System. WestStar is utilizing nCino's Commercial Banking Solution, which provides the bank with configurable solution for its employees and commercial clients. WestStar worked with Enforce Consulting to implement nCino's cloud-based digital platform. The nCino Bank Operating System is now helping more than 330 WestStar employees with insights into the bank through an end-to-end platform that spans business teams and combines customer relationship management, onboarding, loan origination, and instant workflow reporting capabilities to provide WestStar's clients with a premier experience. WestStar will be implementing nCino's Retail Banking Solution with Enforce later this year.

07:32 EDT Petco reports Q2 comparable sales growth of 20% - "With purpose driven performance at the heart of all we do, our second quarter results reflect the strength of our differentiated model and continued focus on driving customer acquisition, increasing spend, fueling comp growth of 20 percent year-over-year and 30 percent on a two-year stack," said Ron Coughlin, Chairman and CEO of Petco. "We exited Q2 with strong momentum while lapping robust double-digit comp growth. Looking ahead, we're operating from a position of strength as we move into the second half, which gave us the confidence to raise our guidance. We believe we have significant runway for continued growth as we execute against our proven transformation strategy in multi-year growth areas across services, veterinary care, digital, and owned and premium brands."

07:31 EDT Petco sees FY21 CapEx near top end of $185M-$235M range

07:20 EDT Emerita Resources intersects high grades in drill hole at Infanta Deposit - Emerita Resources announces that it has intersected high grades in drill hole IN003 at the Infanta Deposit in Huelva Province, Spain. The intercept occurs from 86.2 - 112.8 meters which is the deepest of the program to date. According to Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of Emerita, "The early results we are receiving from the Infanta drill program are excellent confirmation of the exceptional potential of this mineralized zone. The hole is approximately a 45 meter step out from the previously reported hole IN004. We will provide a further update once we receive results for several additional holes." The initial drill program at Infanta is designed to test the full 1.2 kilometer strike length of the mineralization and test the depth extent to at least 300 meters down dip. Our ongoing geological mapping confirms there is solid evidence, including some historical excavations, that mineralization should persist over that strike length and this is further supported by the preliminary results of the ongoing geophysical survey, which also suggests the mineralization continues to depth below the historical drilling. There are 49 historical holes delineating the deposit to date and the program is moving from the known mineralization and stepping out systematically along strike and down dip to establish a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the deposit.

07:16 EDT Lantronix announces ultra-compact Open-Q 5165B System - Lantronix announced its new ultra-compact Open-Q 5165RB System on Module. Lantronix's Open-Q 5165RB SOM features multiple specialized processing cores for powerful AI processing, image and graphics processing and audio processing.

07:14 EDT TScan Therapeutics announces expected milestones - Liquid Tumor Programs: TScan's two lead liquid tumor TCR-T therapy candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are designed to target HA-1 and HA-2, respectively, and treat patients with hematological malignancies who are undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Present additional preclinical data of TSC-100 and TSC-101 during the fourth quarter of 2021. Complete Investigational New Drug -enabling studies and submit IND applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for TSC-100 and TSC-101 during the fourth quarter 2021. Initiate clinical trials for TSC-100 and TSC-101 in the first half of 2022 with initial top-line data expected in the second half of 2022. Solid Tumor Programs: TScan's TSC-200 series of TCR-T therapy candidates include a combination of known targets, such as HPV16 for TSC-200 and PRAME for TSC-203, as well as targets that are novel antigens for TCR-T therapy, such as for TSC-201 and TSC-202. Present additional preclinical data of TSC-200 series during the first half of 2022. Complete three IND-enabling studies for TSC-200 series and submit subsequent IND applications to FDA during the second half of 2022. A fourth IND is also planned for the first half of 2023. Infectious Disease Program Continue research into potential second generation COVID-19 vaccine constructs utilizing TScan's novel T cell target discoveries.

07:11 EDT Macy's jumps 6% to $19.16 after Q2 results beat estimates, FY21 guidance raised

07:10 EDT Compugen's COM902-derived antibody to enter clinical development - Compugen (CGEN) announced that a bispecific antibody of AstraZeneca (AZN) derived from COM902, Compugen's high affinity anti-TIGIT antibody, will advance into clinical development. AstraZeneca plans to initiate a Phase 1/2 study evaluating AZD2936, a TIGIT/PD-1 bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. COM902 was licensed to AstraZeneca in 2018 exclusively for the development of bispecific and multi-specific antibody products, with AstraZeneca responsible for all research, development, and commercial activities. Compugen retains all other rights to the program with exception to those licensed to AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has the right to create multiple products under this license. Compugen has received a $10M upfront payment and an additional $2M milestone payment to date, out of up to an aggregate milestone amount of $200M that the company is eligible to receive in development, regulatory and commercial milestones for the first product, as well as tiered royalties on future product sales. If additional products are developed, additional milestones and royalties would be due to Compugen.

07:09 EDT Tempur Sealy announces contract extension with Mattress Firm - Tempur Sealy announced that it has signed a multi-year extension to its current supply agreement with Mattress Firm. The new extension is on the same terms as the current agreement. Tempur Sealy entered into a mutually beneficial agreement with Mattress Firm in 2019 to supply them with Tempur Sealy's portfolio of highly innovative and highly sought-after products. Distribution of the company's Sealy and Tempur mattress brands, now the number one and number two top selling brands in the U.S., through more than 2,300 Mattress Firm stores provides consumers with additional purchasing options consistent with the company's strategy of ensuring its products are available how and where the customer wants to shop. The relationship has resulted in strong sales for both Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm.

07:07 EDT Macy's reports inventory down 14.5% from 2Q19 - Driven by market dynamics and the company's execution of its Polaris strategy.

07:06 EDT Plus Therapeutics presents data from preclinical study of 86RNL - Plus Therapeutic presented data from a preclinical study evaluating its lead investigational drug, Rhenium-186 Nanoliposome, or 186RNL, in the treatment of leptomeningeal metastases, and presented plans for a Phase 1 clinical trial of 186RNL also in LM. The data and upcoming trial plans were presented in two electronic posters at the Third Annual Conference on Brain Metastases hosted by the Society for Neuro-Oncology. Data from the ePoster entitled "Preclinical safety and activity of intraventricular Rhenium-186 Nanoliposome for leptomeningeal metastases" demonstrated that, following five different doses of 186RNL tested in non-tumor bearing rats administered with the highest doses presented minimal weight loss the first week after surgery, but gained it back in subsequent weeks and showed no overt neurological symptoms through the evaluation. These results suggest that the maximum tolerable dose of 186RNL was not reached, and given the encouraging efficacy shown in pre-clinical LM models, 186RNL has the potential to provide high therapeutic doses for LM with low rates of toxicity. "The novel design of 186RNL prolongs CNS exposure when delivered to the brain by convection enhanced delivery and we believe it will perform similarly in the leptomeningeal spaces where cancerous cells circulate and along the membrane linings where metastases are found," stated Marc Hedrick, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Plus Therapeutics. In addition, the Company presented trial design plans for its upcoming Phase 1 clinical trial as part of an ePoster entitled, "ReSPECT-LM: Maximum tolerated dose, safety, and efficacy of intraventricular Rhenium-186 Nanoliposome for leptomeningeal metastases." The multi-center, sequential cohort, open-label, dose escalation study, which will begin patient accrual in the fourth quarter of 2021, pending FDA IND approval, will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and distribution of 186RNL via intrathecal infusion to the ventricle of breast and non-small cell lung cancer patients with LM after standard surgical, radiation, and/or chemotherapy treatment. The primary endpoint of the study is the incidence and severity of adverse events and dose limiting toxicities, and the secondary endpoints are the overall response rate, duration or response, progression free survival, and overall survival. This ReSPECT-LM Phase 1 clinical trial follows preclinical studies, in which tolerance to doses of 186RNL as high as 1075 Gy was shown in rat models with LM with no observed significant toxicity and treatment led to marked reduction in tumor burden in both C6 and MDA-231 LM models.

07:05 EDT Macy's reports Q2 digital sales down 6% y/y - Digital sales declined 6% versus second quarter 2020 and grew 45% versus second quarter 2019. Digital penetration was 32% of net sales, a 22-percentage point decline from second quarter 2020, but a 10-percentage point improvement over second quarter 2019. Decline in digital sales compared to the prior year driven by shift of omnichannel customers to stores, which are now fully open.

07:03 EDT Adagene announces third clinical trial collaboration with Merck - Adagene (ADAG) announced that it has entered into a third clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck (MRK). The agreement includes an open-label, dose escalation and expansion clinical study of ADG106 in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 KEYTRUDA in advanced or metastatic solid and/or hematological malignancies. This clinical study builds on the promising monotherapy and combination therapy data from a Phase I trial of ADG106. Engineered using Adagene's proprietary NEObody platform technology, ADG106 is a fully human, ligand-blocking, agonistic anti-CD137 immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Merck in a third clinical collaboration that now combines our anti-CD137 agonist, ADG106, with KEYTRUDA," said Peter Luo, Ph.D., Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Adagene. "While PD-1 drugs have advanced the cancer treatment paradigm, there are still a substantial number of patients with advanced metastatic solid and hematological malignancies who either relapse or are unresponsive, highlighting the need for new approaches. ADG106 targets a unique and highly conserved epitope with a novel mechanism of action and broad species cross reactivity, which enables testing in immunocompetent hosts. In multiple syngeneic models, we have shown a strong additive effect between ADG106 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents."

06:59 EDT Macy's reinstates quarterly dividend at 15c, authorizes $500M share repurchase - The company is reinstating its regular quarterly dividend at 15c per share on Macy'ss common stock, resulting in an annual return of cash to shareholders of nearly $200M. The dividend is payable on October 1, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15. The company's board of directors has authorized a $500M share repurchase program.

06:56 EDT Macy's reports Q2 SSS up 61.2% on an owned basis - Comparable sales up 61.2% on an owned basis and up 62.2% on an owned plus licensed basis versus 2020. Comparable sales up 5.8% on an owned basis and up 5.9% on an owned plus licensed basis versus 2019. Trend improvement of approximately 16 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2021.

06:52 EDT NovaBay to distribute Zocular dry eye products - NovaBay signed an agreement with Okra to distribute their Zocular dry eye products alongside Avenova in NovaBay's physician-dispensed sales channel. Products sold under the Zocular brand were developed by Okra CEO Peter Pham, a board-certified ophthalmologist, and are all complementary to Avenova.

06:49 EDT BJ's Wholesale CEO says 'we drove outstanding membership results' - "When I reflect on our impressive performance, it is clear that our progress against our strategic priorities has powered our success. We drove outstanding membership results, expanded our market share and continued to benefit from elevated consumer spending trends," said Bob Eddy, President and CEO, BJ's Wholesale Club. "I am thankful for our team members' dedication and excellent execution, which continues to enable our success. We have invested into our team members, the value of our membership, our digital infrastructure and physical footprint to continue to accelerate our growth flywheel. With these investments, we are confident that we are well positioned for long-term success."

06:47 EDT BJ's Wholesale reports Q2 total comparable sales increased by 4.0% - Reflecting two year stacked comp of 21.2%.

06:42 EDT IRD awarded fifth ESS enforcement system by ODOT - International Road Dynamics, a Quarterhill (QTRHF) company, announced that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, or ODOT, has authorized IRD to move forward with the installation of an Electronic Screening System, or ESS, for the Bryan County Northbound Port-of-Entry Weigh Station. The financial terms of the contract are confidential. The project is expected to commence in Q2 of 2022, and once implemented, IRD will maintain the system for a five-year period.

06:31 EDT Bath & Body Works 'confident' in ability to grow sales at MSD/HSD rate - The company expressed confidence in its ability to grow sales at a mid- to high-single digit rate over the next three to five years, and believes an operating margin in the low to mid-twenties is appropriate for Bath & Body Works.

06:28 EDT Bath & Body Works sees 'significant' growth vs. 2019 - In commentary released along with its earnings report, Bath & Body Works said it has repurchased 17M shares for $1.19M year-to-date. Year-to-date, direct channel sales decreased 6% compared to last year, with the company citing very high demand due to store closures. The company continues to closely evaluate all locations, especially more vulnerable centers, for risk of closure. Year-to-date, it has permanently closed 11 stores, and would anticipate about 20-40 closures for the full year 2021, principally in malls. It is forecasting approximately 55 new, almost entirely off-mall, North American stores, resulting in net square footage growth of about 3% for the full year.

06:20 EDT Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought about 158.8K shares of Pfizer on Wednesday

06:04 EDT Black Construction-Tutor Perini JV awarded $98.3M contract in Guam - Tutor Perini announced that the Black Construction-Tutor Perini joint venture has been awarded a fixed-price contract valued at approximately $98.3M by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Pacific Division, for the construction of a bachelor officer quarters at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz on Guam. Black Construction is a subsidiary of the Company, and is one of Guam's largest employers and a major general contractor working in Guam and throughout the Western Pacific. The contract is funded by the government of Japan as part of the international agreement between the United States and Japan. The project scope of work includes construction of a multi-story housing tower with an attached one-story common area wing and a detached utility building. The structure will house single-occupancy housing units with living, bedroom, closet, private bath, kitchen and laundry. Engineering work has already commenced, with field work expected to begin in November 2021 and substantial completion anticipated in May 2024. The contract value will be included in the company's third-quarter 2021 backlog.

05:26 EDT Gaotu Techedu says Beijing Measures compliance will have material adverse impact - Gaotu Techedu announced that the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Beijing Municipality Government jointly issued the "Beijing Municipality's Measures to Further Reduce the Burden of Homework and After-School Tutoring on Students in Compulsory Education in Beijing" on August 14 and published the full text of the Beijing Measures on August 18. The Beijing Measures were adopted to implement the Opinions on Further Alleviating the Burden of Homework and After-School Tutoring for Students in Compulsory Education, published in July by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council of the PRC, and aim to ensure that "the excessive burden upon students from school homework and after-school tutoring, the education expenditures from their families and the burden on their parents' energy will be effectively reduced by the end of 2021, with significant impact achieved within two years." The company's compliance with the Beijing Measures will have a material adverse impact on its business, results of operations and financial condition. Specifically, in compliance with the Beijing Measures, the company has stopped and will stop offering online Academic AST classes over weekends, national holidays and school break periods.

05:21 EDT Rio Tinto, Western Australian Government partner on COVID-19 vaccination blitz - Rio Tinto is partnering with the Western Australian Government to launch a COVID-19 vaccination blitz targeting communities in the Pilbara and the fly-in fly-out workforce. Following discussions between Rio Tinto and the WA Department of Health, vaccination hubs will be established in the Pilbara and at a trial clinic at Perth Airport to make vaccinations more accessible. Starting with Tom Price, planning is underway for hubs at several locations in the Pilbara, with vaccines available to members of the local community, Indigenous communities, Rio Tinto employees, contractors and their families. Rio Tinto is working with the Department of Health and the Shire of Ashburton and is close to finalizing a location for the proposed Tom Price hub. The facility could potentially offer vaccines to the entire adult population of Tom Price and surrounding communities. Rio Tinto's COVID-19 screening facilities at Perth Airport will also be modified to include 'pop-up' vaccination hubs to target workers returning to Perth. The hubs will initially be available to Rio Tinto's FIFO workforce, who regularly travel to and from the Pilbara, with the option to expand the vaccination service to the wider FIFO community. The initial vaccination blitz is expected to commence in September, subject to availability of vaccines. Rio Tinto will work with the WA Government to finalize details in the coming weeks.

05:15 EDT Western Union collaborates, expands with Bank Syariah Indonesia - Western Union has collaborated with Bank Syariah Indonesia, or BSI, a state-owned Islamic bank in Indonesia, to offer its services across more BSI locations in the country. BSI was founded in February as a result of merger between state-owned sharia banks which are subsidiaries of larger banks: BRI Syariah, BNI Syariah and Bank Syariah Mandiri. Western Union previously offered its services at more than 650 Bank Syariah Mandiri locations across Indonesia. This expansion with BSI adds more than 750 additional locations to Western Union's financial network. Customers in Indonesia can now seamlessly send and receive money at more than 1,400 BSI locations in the country, connecting them to their loved ones in more than 200 countries and territories.

04:46 EDT Orbcomm says FCC approves transfer of control of authorizations for deal - Orbcomm announced that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of control of the company's FCC authorizations in connection with the previously announced acquisition of it by GI Partners. The FCC's approval satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the proposed acquisition, the company said. Subject to satisfaction of those conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed by early September. Upon completion of the proposed acquisition, Orbcomm will become a privately-held company.