Stockwinners Market Radar for August 29, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:02 EDT Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought 208K shares of Tempus AI today

19:50 EDT Galmed trading halted, news pending

19:50 EDT Galecto trading halted, news pending

18:49 EDT Gap CEO: We expect positive comps for the remainder of the year - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Richard Dickson said Gap's current marketing is "really resonating" with customers. The men's business is in a stronger position than the women's, he noted. The company is broadening its customer base and seeing better sell throughs at full price. It's also seeing growth across all income cohorts, he added.

18:34 EDT Immersion CEO buys $438K in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Immersion disclosed that its CEO Eric Singer bought 50K shares of common stock on August 27th in a total transaction size of $438K. Shares of Immersion are up 4% afterhours at $9.00.

18:00 EDT Domo names Tod Crane CFO - Domo announced that David Jolley will step down as Domo's Chief Financial Officer due to personal health challenges. He will transition out of the CFO role at the end of Domo's third quarter, and after that time, will continue to support the company and its executive team as a Senior Advisor. Domo's SVP of Finance, Tod Crane, will be promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Joining Domo in 2015, Tod has held several finance leadership roles, and in recent months, has worked closely with David across all aspects of Domo's financial operations and investor relationships. "I want to thank David for his contributions as CFO at Domo. His passion for innovation and growth drove strong operational excellence and efficiency, and I am grateful for his leadership and partnership," said Josh James, founder and CEO, Domo. "Thankfully, we will still have David in a senior advisory capacity, and I am delighted to have Tod Crane step into the CFO role. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Tod over his nearly decade tenure at Domo, and I strongly believe Tod has the experience and insights Domo needs for our path back to growth."

17:23 EDT Marvell up 9% at $75.80 after Q2 results, Q3 guidance, earnings call commentary

17:15 EDT RTX awarded $1.04B Air Force contract contract - Raytheon was awarded a not-to-exceed $1.04B fixed-price-incentive, undefinitized contract for Group B hardware, spares, and support equipment. This contract provides for the F-22 sensor enhancements program that is designed to improve the F-22 sensor capabilities. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by May 8, 2029. This contract was a sole source acquisition. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.

17:06 EDT First Financial Bancorp board chair Davis sells 29,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, First Financial Bancorp board chair Claude Davis disclosed the sale of 29,000 common shares of the company on August 29 at a price of $26.60 per share.

17:02 EDT Tyson Foods names Curt Calaway CFO, John Tyson remains with company - Tyson Foods announced that Curt Calaway has been named CFO, effective immediately. Calaway has been with the company since 2006, most recently serving as interim CFO. Calaway will report directly to Donnie King, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. Calaway succeeds John Tyson. Tyson remains with the company but is currently on health-related leave.

16:56 EDT HUB Security receives noncompliance notification from Nasdaq - HUB Security was notified that the company is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450 because the company's total assets and total revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year and two of the last three most recently completed fiscal years were each below the minimum $50M threshold for continued listing on Nasdaq.

16:38 EDT PotlatchDeltic completes Arkansas sawmill construction, begins ramp-up phase - PotlatchDeltic has completed the planned downtime at the Waldo, Arkansas sawmill to tie-in equipment for the modernization and expansion project. The modernization project construction has been completed and the facility is beginning its ramp-up phase, and it is anticipated that it will take 6 to 12 months to reach the mill's new dimensional lumber capacity of 275M board feet per year. The Waldo modernization and expansion project is a $131M strategic investment that is expected to increase the mill's annual capacity by 85M board feet, improve recovery by 6%, and reduce cash processing costs by approximately 30%. Once the ramp-up phase is completed, the mill is expected to generate approximately $25M incremental adjusted EBITDDA annually under a mid-cycle sales environment and an internal rate of return of approximately 22% in our base case.

16:30 EDT Universal Corporation names Preston D. Wigner as new CEO - Universal Corporation announced that its Board of Directors has approved a leadership succession plan. Under the plan, Preston D. Wigner, who has been with Universal for more than 20 years and currently serves as the Company's Senior Vice President, will become Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. At that time, George C. Freeman, III, will retire from his longtime roles as Chairman, President, and CEO and as a member of the Board.

16:23 EDT Intuitive Machines secures $116.9M NASA Lunar contract award - NASA has "awarded Intuitive Machines a $116.9 million contract to deliver six science and technology payloads, including one European Space Agency-led drill suite to the Moon's South Pole. This award will leverage Intuitive Machines' lunar delivery, data transmission, and autonomous operation capabilities to explore the region targeted for sustained human operations."

16:17 EDT Capital City Bank raises dividend 9.5% to 23c per share - The Board of Directors of Capital City Bank Group declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 23c per share. It represents a 9.5% increase over the prior quarter dividend of 21c per share. The dividend produces an annualized rate of 92c per common share and is payable on September 23 to shareowners of record as of September 9 . The annualized dividend yield is 2.67% based on a closing stock price of $34. 40 on August 28.

16:16 EDT MongoDB jumps 14% to $280.55 after Q2 results beat, FY25 guidance raised

16:14 EDT Site Centers updates on Q3 transaction/financing activity - SITE Centers provided an update on third quarter 2024 to date transaction and financing activity. In the third quarter to date, SITE Centers has sold 11 wholly owned properties for an aggregate gross price of $552.7 million and acquired four convenience shopping centers for an aggregate gross price of $88.0 million including Crocker Commons, Maple Corner, Village Plaza (Houston, TX) and Brookhaven Station (Atlanta, GA).

16:12 EDT Ulta Beauty down 8% at $338.94 after Q2 earnings miss, guidance cut

16:11 EDT Marvell reports Q2 gross margin 46.2%; adjusted gross margin 61.9%

16:09 EDT Lam Research raises quarterly dividend 15% to $2.30 from $2.00 per share - Lam Research announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 30c, or 15%, increase in its quarterly dividend, from $2.00 to $2.30 per share of common stock. The dividend payment will be made on October 1, 2024, to holders of record on September 17, 2024.

16:09 EDT Ulta Beauty reports Q2 SSS down 1.2%

16:05 EDT NuCana discontinues NuTide:323 study - NuCana announced that the NuTide:323 study is being discontinued following a pre-planned initial analysis and recommendation from the NuTide:323 Study Steering Committee. While there were prognostic imbalances favoring the control arm, the Steering Committee believed that the combination of NUC-3373 with leucovorin, irinotecan and bevacizumab was unlikely to achieve the study's primary objective of superior Progression Free Survival or PFS, compared to the control arm of 5-FU, leucovorin, irinotecan and bevacizumab in the final analysis. In all three arms, the treatment regimens were observed to have a favorable safety profile and to be generally well tolerated, with only 12 of the 175 patients discontinuing treatment due to adverse events.

16:02 EDT IPG Photonics sells Russian operations for $51M - IPG Photonics announced that it has sold its entire interest in its Russian subsidiary, IRE-Polus. The purchaser is a group led by Softline Projects and current management of IRE-Polus. The sale marks the finalization of IPG's exit from all facilities in Russia, following imposed sanctions on trade after the start of the war with Ukraine. The proceeds from the transaction are $51M before advisory and other fees. The company expects that the sale will reduce third quarter revenue as compared to previously provided guidance by approximately $5M. IRE-Polus revenue accounts for less than 5% of IPG's full-year revenue. Related to the transaction, the company expects to record total estimated charges of $195M to $210M. Of these total estimated charges, $60M to $65M relates to the carrying value of net assets of IRE-Polus that is in excess of net proceeds received on the sale and $135M to $145M relates to the cumulative translation adjustment component of other comprehensive income that is included in shareholders equity. The company does not expect to provide any further information regarding the transaction until it reports earnings results for the third quarter.

15:46 EDT Shell to sell Sinco pipeline system and Colex terminal - Shell Pipeline Company LP and Triton West LLC, respective subsidiaries of Shell USA, Inc., have agreed to sell their 100% interest in the Sinco pipeline system and Colex terminal to a subsidiary of Edgewater Midstream LLC, pending regulatory approval. "This sale follows our guidance at Shell's Capital Markets Day to continue to simplify our portfolio as we seek to deliver more value, with less emissions," said Andrew Smith, Shell Executive Vice President Trading & Supply. "After the completion of the sale of Shell's equity in Deer Park Refinery, these assets are non-integrated and no longer fit within Shell's Powering Progress strategy. This transaction enables re-deployment of capital to other projects that will do so." The sale of both assets is expected to be completed in Q4, Shell noted.

15:08 EDT Secureworks reopens after halt, now up 27%

15:04 EDT Secureworks up 17% after Reuters says Dell trying again to explore sale

14:56 EDT SecureWorks trading halted, volatility trading pause

14:16 EDT Azul trading resumes

13:56 EDT Booz Allen announces $421M DHS contract, with a ceiling of $1.2B - Earlier on Thursday, Booz Allen announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS awarded Booz Allen Hamilton a task order to continue its support for the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency's CISA Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation CDM DEFEND program, which makes federal government data and networks more resilient against cyberattacks. The three-year award carries a base value of $421M and a ceiling of $1.2B . Booz Allen will provide cybersecurity tools and expertise on behalf of CISA to 13 government agencies, including NASA, IRS, and the Department of Health and Human Services HHS -expanding critical incident support to include advancing zero trust maturity. ..Under this contract, Booz Allen will provide integrated solutions and services across four focused areas: asset management, identity and access management, network security management, and data protection management. In addition, as a key deliverable, the firm is charged with enabling civilian agencies to mature their posture against each zero trust pillar, in a coordinated, accelerated way. "We're excited for the opportunity to continue our longstanding partnership with CDM, which aligns squarely with our VoLT business strategy to innovate at the speed of need," said Erica Banks, vice president at Booz Allen and leader of the firm's CDM portfolio. "While we'll continue to focus on sustaining operational visibility and implementing critical capabilities, this award also calls for us to reimagine how we can support CDM moving forward. We look forward to helping the nation's agencies improve their own cybersecurity postures and help them perform critical data-enabled missions in service of millions of Americans every day."

13:30 EDT Azul says in talks with stakeholders about optimizing equity structure - Azul S.A. stated in a message to its local regulator that it seeks to "clarify to its shareholders and the market in general about the misinterpreted news published by Bloomberg on August 28," according to a translation of the notice. The translation of the notice says: "As previously disclosed in our 2Q24 earnings call on August 12, 2024, our operations were severely impacted in 2024 by several factors, such as: (i) the devaluation of the Brazilian real; (ii) the reduction in our domestic capacity as a result of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul in May and the closure of Porto Alegre Airport, with partial reopening scheduled for October 2024; (iii) the temporary reduction in our international capacity in the first half of the year; and (iv) delays in manufacturers' deliveries of new aircraft. As a result, Azul developed a new strategic plan, aiming at a general improvement of its structure capital and liquidity position. The Company is in active negotiations with its main stakeholders to optimize the equity structure agreed in last year's capital optimization plan. Overall, stakeholders are showing support and negotiations are moving towards better results for all parties. As we have consistently demonstrated, Azul has always favors friendly and commercial solutions that maximize value for all its stakeholders. Additionally, as we also reported on our earnings call, we have additional capacity fundraising using Azul Cargo as primary guarantee in the amount of up to US$800 million. Other sources of liquidity are also available. Yesterday, the Brazilian Congress approved the bill which allows airlines to access recurring credit lines supported by the Fund National Civil Aviation Authority (FNAC). Furthermore, as already announced, the Company is holding discussions with Abra to explore possible partnerships or business combinations related to GOL. To date, she has not celebrated or formalized an agreement, binding or not." Reference Link

12:28 EDT Azul trading halted, news pending

12:00 EDT Best Buy rises 15.4% - Best Buy is up 15.4%, or $13.52 to $101.31.

12:00 EDT Build-A-Bear rises 21.7% - Build-A-Bear is up 21.7%, or $6.04 to $33.91.

12:00 EDT Birkenstock falls -14.8% - Birkenstock is down -14.8%, or -$8.99 to $51.71.

11:52 EDT JE Cleantech Holdings regains compliance with Nasdaq requirement - JE Cleantech Holdings received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Compliance Letter informed the Company that it had regained compliance with Nasdaq's bid price requirement in Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), as required by the Hearing Panel's decision dated July 15, 2024. Accordingly, the Company's common stock will continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market and Nasdaq considers the matter closed.

11:34 EDT ESS Tech trading halted, volatility trading pause

11:16 EDT Gap CEO says in 'stronger position across key metrics that matter' than year ago - "Gap Inc. delivered another successful quarter, exceeding financial expectations and gaining market share for the 6th consecutive quarter. In comparison to where we were only one year ago, we are in a stronger position across key metrics that matter - including net sales, margins, and our cash position - and we are making consistent progress in the reinvigoration of our brands. These results are a reflection of the dedication and collaboration of our global team, reinforcing my confidence that we are well on our way to unlocking the full potential of this extraordinary portfolio of iconic American brands," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson, along with the company's report of its financial results for its second quarter ended August 3.

11:04 EDT Funko expands Pop! Yourself line through partnership with NFL - Funko announced a major expansion of its Pop! Yourself line in partnership with the NFL. Tees and hoodies for Pop! Yourself figures will be available in all 32 NFL teams. Taking fan-first collectibles to the next level, the expanded personalized offerings coincide with an event at the NFL's kickoff game in Kansas City, marking a spectacular start for fans to sport their fandoms in Pop! form. Available for $35 via Funko's Pop! Yourself online experience, fans will access a selection of gray and white v-neck shirts and hoodies, complete with character body, two accessories and NFL-branded packaging to flaunt team pride and allegiance. Pop! Yourself collectors also gain access to an exclusive avatar of themselves decked out in their selected NFL team attire, ideal for showcasing across social media channels.

11:01 EDT LaCroix enters multi-year partnership with Kansas City Current - LaCroix Sparkling Water by National Beverage announced its new multi-year partnership with the Kansas City Current, a women's professional soccer team led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes. LaCroix will be the exclusive sparkling water partner of the KC Current to be sold at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women's professional sports team. Additionally, LaCroix's logo will be featured above the nameplate on the KC Current's primary and secondary kits. LaCroix is the first upper-back kit sponsor in club history. LaCroix will also be involved in various community activations, including the presenting sponsor of the Current's Junior Reporter Series focused on health and wellness and showcasing local youth organizations.

10:33 EDT Accenture names Chakraborty as group chief executive, Accenture Operations - Accenture announced that Arundhati Chakraborty has been appointed group chief executive of Accenture Operations, effective as of Sept. 1. As clients look to reinvent their operations using tech, data and AI, Chakraborty brings an outstanding track record delivering complex transformations, particularly in her current role leading over 185,000 Accenture people across more than 125 Intelligent Operations Centers, focusing on compressed transformation through analytics, artificial intelligence and automation. With 30 years of industry experience, her ability to shape and implement talent strategy across diverse teams will help Accenture create ever greater value for clients around the world. Arundhati will be responsible for growing the company's $10B Operations business and bringing even greater innovation to Accenture's clients, tapping vast opportunities created with generative AI and automation. Yusuf Tayob will become the global Communications, Media & Technology industry practices chair at Accenture. He will leave the role as group chief executive of Operations where he played an essential role pivoting the company's managed services business to bring new data and AI capabilities to clients.

10:21 EDT IFS completes acquisition of Copperleaf Technologies - Copperleaf Technologies announced that Industrial and Financial Systems, IFS AB has completed the previously announced acquisition of Copperleaf pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. In accordance with the terms of the Arrangement, IFS indirectly acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Copperleaf for $12.00 in cash per Share, representing a total equity value of approximately $1.0 billion on a fully diluted basis. The Shares are expected to be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange on or about the closing of trading on August 30, 2024. It is anticipated that Copperleaf will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.

10:11 EDT United expressed 'concerns' to DOT with Hawaiian, Alaska Air merger plan - In a U.S. Department of Transportation memo from Ben Shipe, Attorney-Advisor, Office of International and Aviation Economic Law, Shipe wrote: "On August 27, 2024, Robert Rivkin, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of United Airlines, spoke with Deputy Counsel Brian Stansbury. Mr. Rivkin expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of a merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines on the cooperation agreements between United and Hawaiian Airlines. He noted that United has interline, codeshare, special prorate, and loyalty agreements with Hawaiian Airlines." Reference Link

10:04 EDT Wyoming Highway Patrol leverages Cradlepoint routers for connectivity - Cradlepoint announced that Wyoming Highway Patrol is leveraging Cradlepoint dual-modem routers and NetCloud Manager to provide in-vehicle cellular connectivity for its state-wide fleet. In addition, the Cradlepoint solutions enable WHP to provide reliable failover connectivity to satellite for its command bus, which is used as a mobile headquarters by multiple agencies for major incident response across the state.

10:02 EDT United expressed 'concerns' to DOT with Hawaiian, Alaska Air merger

10:01 EDT Marathon Oil receives shareholder approval for pending merger with ConocoPhillips - Marathon Oil (MRO) announced that it received the necessary stockholder approval for Marathon Oil's pending merger with ConocoPhillips (COP). Marathon Oil will file the vote results of the special stockholder meeting in a Form 8-K with the U.S. SEC. Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips continue to expect the transaction to close late in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.

10:00 EDT Pure Storage falls -15.5% - Pure Storage is down -15.5%, or -$9.27 to $50.49.

10:00 EDT Dollar General falls -24.8% - Dollar General is down -24.8%, or -$30.69 to $93.15.

10:00 EDT Best Buy rises 14.1% - Best Buy is up 14.1%, or $12.36 to $100.15.

09:58 EDT Gap Inc trading halted, news pending

09:55 EDT Azul sinks 23% to $2.99 after Bloomberg report on possible bankruptcy

09:48 EDT Best Buy rises 14.4% - Best Buy is up 14.4%, or $12.66 to $100.45.

09:47 EDT Pure Storage falls -12.0% - Pure Storage is down -12.0%, or -$7.17 to $52.59.

09:47 EDT Dollar General falls -23.1% - Dollar General is down -23.1%, or -$28.55 to $95.29.

09:41 EDT Sezzle enters five-year strategic partnership with WebBank - Sezzle and WebBank, a Utah-chartered industrial bank, entered into a five-year strategic partnership program, Sezzle disclosed last night in a regulatory filing. The program is expected to launch in September, subject to completion of the parties' confirmatory testing and procedures. WebBank will serve as Sezzle's exclusive bank to originate and finance products currently offered through the Sezzle platform, including Sezzle's "Pay-in-2" and "Pay-in-4" products. WebBank will also serve as the exclusive issuer of all Sezzle subscription products and the exclusive issuer of Sezzle card products, including the Sezzle Virtual Card and gift cards. WebBank will offer loans to U.S. customers to finance purchases of merchant products through the Sezzle platform or within Sezzle's direct merchant network. Sezzle, subject to WebBank's review and approval, will act as the administrator of the program and master servicer. WebBank has the right to sell all loans it originates under the program to other entities, including Sezzle. Shares of Sezzle are up 2% to $132.60 in morning trading.

09:30 EDT Gap reports Q2 store sales up 4% vs. last year; online sales up 7% vs. last year - Online sales represented 33% of total net sales.

09:30 EDT Lexaria Bioscience says second GLP-1 human pilot study shows zero adverse events - Lexaria Bioscience announces that tolerability and additional pharmacokinetic results from human pilot study #2, GLP-1-H24-2, have been received. Lexaria's DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus capsules demonstrated superior tolerability in delivering the GLP-1 drug semaglutide versus commercially available Rybelsus. We were pleased to find that none of the 9 people taking the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus swallowed as a capsule experienced any adverse events whatsoever. However, of the 9 human volunteers in the Study taking the Rybelsus tablet, 6 of them experienced mild adverse events. Five of those same 6 people experienced mild adverse events from taking the dissolvable oral mouth-melt format of DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus. These tolerability findings nicely build upon the those from Lexaria's previous human pilot study #1, GLP-1-H24-1, which also showed the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus capsules to be generally better tolerated than the Rybelsus tablets that demonstrated instances of moderate nausea or diarrhea. Combined with the 7 people involved in Lexaria's first human pilot study examining DehydraTECH processing of semaglutide capsules, a total of 16 people have now been dosed with comparable DehydraTECH-processed semaglutide capsules and Rybelsus tablets. Of those 16 people, 13 or 81%, experienced mild or moderate side effects with the Rybelsus tablet and only 7 people, or 44%, experienced only mild side effects with the Rybelsus that was processed with DehydraTECH and administered via capsules. Most of the side effects experienced in all cases were of a gastrointestinal nature including belching, diarrhea and nausea that are commonly associated with GLP-1 drugs, although intensity was lower in all instances with the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus capsules in pilot study #1 or absent altogether in the present Study. The continuing evidence of decreased adverse events with the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus capsules compared to commercially available Rybelsus tablets is encouraging. Other reports have noted that Rybelsus generally produces slightly higher incidences of several common side effects as compared to the injectable product Ozempic, which outsells Rybelsus by a factor of almost five-fold. DehydraTECH's ability to improve oral tolerability could, in future, however, help to drive increased use of oral GLP-1 product formats, if proven definitively through thorough registered clinical testing. Lexaria also reports that the third arm of the Study that evaluated a DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus formulation as an in-mouth dissolvable tablet also showed some promise from a conceptual perspective. Across the 18 blood draws from the 20-minute mark until the 24-hour mark in the Study, the average blood concentration level of the Rybelsus tablet was 3.93; for the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus mouth-melt it was 1.27 or 32.3% of the Rybelsus tablet results; and for the DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus it was 4.20 or 106.9% of the Rybelsus tablet results. The Company is unaware whether the in-mouth dissolvable tablet product format has ever been used before to attempt to deliver a GLP-1 drug. As such, there was a real possibility that it would fail to do so. Instead, it delivered roughly one-quarter to one-third of the quantity of drug into blood as the Rybelsus tablet. If this absorption is additive to the existing gastrointestinal absorption, this could be a very interesting incrementally positive result. This was the first Study designed to investigate whether DehydraTECH-enhanced semaglutide can absorb at any level systemically through the sublingual/buccal tissues of the mouth and throat with some effective drug delivery into the bloodstream. As this published study notes, the level of expected weight loss associated with GLP-1 drugs is directly correlated with the quantity of GLP-1 drug circulating in the blood stream. It is for this reason that Lexaria is constantly pursuing any and all improvements in drug delivery that are possible.

09:27 EDT Diana Shipping announces time charter contract for m/v DSI Pegasus - Diana Shipping has entered into a time charter contract with Cargill Ocean Transportation, for one of its Ultramax dry bulk vessels, the m/v DSI Pegasus. The gross charter rate is $15,250 per day, minus a 4.75% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum June 1, 2025 up to maximum August 1, 2025. The charter is expected to commence on September 4, 2024. The m/v DSI Pegasus is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Reachy Shipping, at a gross charter rate of $14,000 per day, minus a 5.00% commission paid to third parties. The "DSI Pegasus" is a 60,508 dwt Ultramax dry bulk vessel built in 2015. The employment of "DSI Pegasus" is anticipated to generate approximately $4.09M of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.

09:24 EDT Pactiv Evergreen launches Recycleware Reduced-Density Polypropylene trays - Pactiv Evergreen launches Recycleware Reduced-Density Polypropylene meat trays. Pactiv Evergreen's Recycleware RDPP meat trays are the perfect solution for packer processors seeking alternatives to foam polystyrene. Pactiv Evergreen's Recycleware RDPP meat trays have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers as meeting the highest criteria in the APR DesignGuide for Plastics Recyclability. Additionally, they may be recycled in communities that accept polypropylene trays. The Recycleware RDPP meat trays are a sustainable alternative to foam polystyrene trays

09:15 EDT QuantaSing Group files FY24 annual report on Form 20-F - QuantaSing Group filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2024

09:09 EDT Ageagle Aerial Systems announces company has selected by DIU for collab event - AgEagle Aerial Systems announces the Company was selected for and participated in a collaborative test flight event sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit, DIU. The three-day event, in partnership with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, Air Force Research Lab, AFRL, Auterion GS, AX Enterprize, Skydio, and Somewear Labs, was held at the 300-acre FAA-designated NY UAS Test Site. The purpose was to evaluate the integration of select Blue Unmanned Aerial System, UAS, platforms with the Collaborative Low-Altitude UAS Integration Effort, CLUE, Uncrewed Traffic Management, UTM, system. This system, developed by AFRL, provides a way to enable the safe, secure, and efficient operations of UAS within the national airspace system.

09:08 EDT Frontier gets $23M in grants for high-speed fiber for underserved in California - Frontier secured more than $23M in Federal Funding Account grants to expand high-speed fiber broadband service to unserved and underserved homes and businesses in California. The three grants from the California Public Utility Commission will enable us to expand our fiber-optic network in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. With these grants, we will bring fast, reliable connectivity to homes and businesses in the San Bernardino and Riverside areas, boosting economic and educational opportunities for county residents. This work strengthens our commitment to bringing high-speed fiber internet to unserved and underserved communities. Handy quote: "We are thrilled to receive grant funding that supports our commitment to building the critical digital infrastructure California needs to succeed," said Veronica Bloodworth, Chief Network Officer. "These grants will help us expand access to our high-speed fiber internet to unserved and underserved communities in the state. That means more Californians will be able to benefit from all the opportunities that our fast, reliable fiber connectivity offers."

09:07 EDT Psychemedics launches ketamine hair testing service - Psychemedics announced the launch of its new ketamine hair testing solution. This innovative testing method marks a significant advancement in the detection and prevention for a drug-free workplace and community. With the introduction of this new testing service, Psychemedics aims to equip organizations with the tools needed to identify and address ketamine use effectively. Key Features and Benefits of Ketamine Hair Testing: Long Detection Window: Unlike traditional drug testing methods, hair analysis can detect ketamine use for up to 90 days, providing a comprehensive overview of an individual's drug use history. Non-Invasive and Convenient: The hair collection process is simple and noninvasive and can be performed without the need for specialized facilities, making it ideal for various testing environments. High Sensitivity and Specificity: Utilizing advanced technology, Psychemedics' ketamine hair test ensures highly accurate results, minimizing the risk of false positives and negatives. Comprehensive Drug Panel: This new service can be integrated into existing multi-drug panels offered by Psychemedics, allowing for a broad-spectrum approach to drug testing Support for Various Industries: The ketamine hair test is designed to meet the needs of diverse sectors, including workplace safety programs, educational institutions, rehabilitation centers, law enforcement agencies, and many others.

09:06 EDT U.S. Global Investors launches Jets ETF on Colombian Securities Exchange - U.S. Global Investors announced that its airlines ETF, the U.S. Global Jets ETF, is now listed on Bolsa de Valores de Colombia, the Colombian Securities Exchange. The new listing will further expand JETS' Latin America footprint and allow investors in Colombia to access the ETF. JETS first listed in New York in 2015. In 2020, it was approved to trade in Lima, Peru, and in 2021, JETS landed in Mexico.

09:05 EDT OptimumBank announces inaugural Virtual Banking Conference - OptimumBank's industry leading event is just two weeks away, September 12, 2024. The conference will be streamed live on the web, setting the stage as a premier gathering within the finance and economic industries. Top-tier market experts will discuss the current US budget deficit, the direction of interest rates, inflationary and deflationary trends and concerns surrounding geopolitical headwinds. Those interested in viewing this event live, can register at: Virtual Banking Conference. Opening remarks will be delivered by renowned public figure John Kasich, former Governor of Ohio, and distinguished U.S. Congressman. Kasich spent 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he notably chaired the House Budget Committee during a historic era of U.S. budget surplus-a milestone unmatched in over 50 years.

09:03 EDT Scilex announces FDA final approval to precision dosing for GLOPERBA label - Scilex Holding announced FDA approval of a Supplemental New Drug Application for Label Updates to GLOPERBA. GLOPERBA is the only FDA-approved liquid formulation of colchicine for the prophylaxis of acute gout flares. Over 70% of gout patients have chronic kidney disease and many suffer from gastrointestinal sensitivity, necessitating a lower dose of colchicine than the standard 0.6 mg tablet or capsule. GLOPERBA is expected to be the first liquid colchicine formulation that allows healthcare providers to prescribe precision dosing in at-risk patient populations, and thereby help mitigate against severe toxicity in patients. Healthcare providers can now safely and effectively manage such patients at doses below 0.6 mg once or twice daily, which is the standard dose for prophylaxis.

09:02 EDT Fazoli's opens new location in Newnan, Georgia - Fazoli's announced its latest opening in Georgia. Located at 207 Bullsboro Dr. in Newnan, this marks the brand's eighth location to date in the state. Over the years, the brand has steadily built its following in Georgia with its pasta offerings loaded with flavor and free freshly baked, signature breadsticks.

08:58 EDT Getty Images named photographer of 2024 Toronto International Film Festival - Getty Images has once again been named the Official Photographer of the Toronto International Film Festival, renewing a longstanding partnership with one of the largest film festivals in the world. As the official photographer of TIFF, Getty Images' award-winning entertainment photographers will capture images from the festival's red carpet premieres, screenings, parties, the Tribute Gala and "In Conversations With" programming, often from exclusive positions not available from any other source. All images will be distributed exclusively through gettyimages.com.

08:40 EDT Iveda Solutions new patent pending for monitoring solution LevelNOW - Iveda announced a new patent pending for LevelNOW, "its next-generation tracking and monitoring solution for efficiently monitoring liquid storage and management. In industries like oil and gas, where billions of dollars are invested annually in liquid storage infrastructure, LevelNOW offers real-time monitoring and control, helping companies address critical issues such as leaks, evaporation, and theft during liquid transit and storage. .."This innovation comes from being in the field with our customers and truly listening to their needs and desires," said David Ly, CEO and founder of Iveda. "When Iveda develops a new solution for a customer pain point, we always prioritize working with their pre-existing equipment over reinventing the wheel. Not only does this provide major cost savings, but also saves time as users don't need to learn to operate new gear. By enhancing our LevelNOW solution through this new patent, Iveda is underscoring its commitment to industry-specific innovation that simplifies everyday workflows," oted the release..

08:38 EDT Femasys announces CE Mark, Canadian approval of FemVue MINI - Femasy announces that it has received CE mark certification and product approval from Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, for its compact, eco-friendly FemVue MINI for fallopian tube assessment. "Our mission at Femasys has always been to develop cutting-edge technology that are safe, affordable, and accessible to address critical needs in women's health," said Kathy Lee-Sepsick, Femasys' Founder, President, and CEO. "With the FemVue MINI, we are advancing an equally effective solution in a smaller footprint that is aligned with our initiative to be environmentally conscious demonstrating our commitment to sustainability."

08:38 EDT Blue Hat Interactive announces execution of $66.49M gold acquisition - Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology announced the execution of a 1,000-kilogram gold delivery, officially marking the launch of its gold supply chain business. This delivery follows the framework agreement signed in October 2023 with Macau Rongxin Precious Metals Technology. Chen Xiaodong, CEO of BHAT, commented, "The completion of this significant gold delivery represents a crucial advancement for BHAT in the bulk commodity trading sector. This milestone not only underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in the international market but also strengthens our financial position. We anticipate that this success will drive further growth and unlock additional opportunities for the Company."

08:36 EDT Safety Shot says data confirms reduction of morning-after symptoms of drinking - Safety Shot reported another finding. In its double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, researchers noted a substantial increase in aldehyde dehydrogenase with a concurrently marked decrease in acetaldehyde. In as fast as 30 minutes, Safety Shot not only significantly decreased BAC but also rapidly reduced acetaldehyde in the blood by supporting the metabolism of alcohol. This finding proves that it is possible to remove toxins associated with the consumption of alcohol by supporting the metabolism of alcohol in a faster manner than the body can on its own. In addition, Safety Shot reduces these toxins long before any head, body and next day discomfort occurs. "It is well-established by the medical and scientific communities that acetaldehydes, and NOT dehydration, are the cause of the unpleasant after-affects associated with excessive drinking. Once again, Safety Shot shows not only its superiority to any other product on the market across its broad spectrum of benefits, but that it is clinically proven as the world's first in attacking the issues before they become a problem," said David Sandler, the Company's Chief Operating Officer and Co-Inventor. "Our patented formula and unique process, not only makes you feel better fast, but literally alleviates the painful after-affects commonly seen with excessive alcohol consumption."

08:34 EDT Omniq receives $2.5M purchase order from retail partner - OMNIQ Corp. announced the receipt of a significant $2.5M purchase order from a retail partner. This order, received on August 26, 2024, is a testament to the enduring relationship between the two companies, marking a new chapter in their collaboration that spans over a decade. The latest order includes the deployment of advanced portable printers across the retailer's expansive network, enhancing both in-store operations and delivery logistics. The new technology is set to replace outdated systems, driving improved inventory management, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

08:33 EDT Reborn Coffee completes private placement of convertible note - Reborn Coffee announced an investment of $500,000 through a convertible note issued to Quen Inno Tech Co., Ltd. The convertible note is convertible into shares of Reborn Coffee's common stock at a price equal to $3.36 per share. The convertible note accrues interest at an annual rate of 0%; however, the interest rate will increase to an annual rate of 10% upon the occurrence of an event of default. This strategic investment highlights the growing confidence in Reborn Coffee's business model and future growth prospects. The investment by Quen Inno Tech Co., Ltd. is a strong vote of confidence for the company's vision and operational strength.

08:32 EDT Ontrak Health and MosaicVoice team on efficient approach to healthcare - Ontrak announced it has partnered with MosaicVoice, AI-powered voice technology company to transform healthcare delivery and patient outcomes for Ontrak and its members. The strategic partnership aims to create a more connected, intelligent, and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem by integrating advanced voice and AI technologies. "By partnering with MosaicVoice, we are combining the best in AI-driven engagement with our expertise in healthcare to deliver more effective and efficient care," said Brianna Brennan, Chief Innovation Officer at Ontrak Health. "This collaboration promotes a scalable and elevated patient experience that is intended to improve health outcomes. Incorporating this technology into our ecosystem further enables consistent delivery of our evidence-based model built upon the Comprehensive Healthcare Integration or CHI framework." MosaicVoice's AI technology offers real-time, dynamic guidance and conversation analysis, helping care teams maintain meaningful and compliant patient interactions. The solution actively listens to conversations, ensures adherence to care delivery protocols, and guides care teams with prompts that enhance patient engagement. This technology can detect patient sentiment, surface care opportunities, and provide immediate feedback to support care providers.

08:28 EDT Viking Holdings broadens China offering with new voyages starting in 2025 - Viking announced six new itineraries in Asia that will expand exclusive access for guests to Japan and China, with Tibet or Xizang in 2025. The new voyages range from 15 to 22 days and explore iconic destinations in China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Lhasa in Tibetor Xizang, as well as Osaka, Japan. The itineraries will continue to highlight rarely seen destinations and ports in China to which only Viking has access. Each voyage will offer guests immersive destination-focused experiences, insightful lectures and regionally inspired cuisine. Now open for booking, the new itineraries will operate from September 2025 to November 2025 on the Viking Yi Dun-formerly the Viking Sun-a sister ship featuring the same award-winning design and service as all other ocean ships in Viking's fleet.

08:23 EDT FaZe Clan, Rollbit announce multi-year expansion of sponsorship deal - FaZe Clan Esports announces a new multi-year, expansion of its multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Rollbit. Under the expanded terms of the partnership, Rollbit will deepen its sponsorship of FaZe Clan's Counter-Strike team, which has spent 34 weeks ranked #1 in the world and 86 weeks in the top 5 ranking since January 2022 according to HLTV. Rollbit's sponsorship of FaZe Clan, focused exclusively outside of the United States.

08:15 EDT Uber to make strategic investment in embodied AI firm Wayve - Wayve announced a new strategic partnership with Uber Uber has also agreed to make a strategic investment in Wayve as an extension of the company's previously announced Series C fundraising round. With the additional funding and support from Uber, Wayve intends to accelerate its work with global OEMs to enhance consumer vehicles with Level 2+ advanced driver assistance and Level 3 automated driving capabilities, while also working towards the development of globally scalable Level 4 autonomous vehicles for future deployment on Uber. Distinct from traditional AV approaches, Wayve has a unique focus on mapless end-to-end AI technology, designed to allow automated vehicles to operate without geofenced limits. The partnership envisions future Wayve-powered self-driving vehicles being made available on the Uber network in multiple markets around the world, bringing Wayve's leading technology to Uber's more than 150 million monthly global users. Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve: "Wayve is building a 'general purpose' driving Al that can power all levels of driving automation in any type of vehicle, anywhere in the world. I'm excited to be teaming up with Uber, the largest mobility network in the world, to massively ramp up our AI's fleet learning, ensuring our AV technology is safe and ready for global deployment across Uber's network. Together, we're excited to work with Automotive OEMs to bring autonomous driving to to consumers sooner."

08:09 EDT Uber and AI firm Wayve partner to accelerate future of 'Automated Driving' - Wayve, "a leader in Embodied AI for self-driving announced a new strategic partnership with Uber," the world's leading mobility and delivery network," noted the story Uber has also agreed to make a strategic investment in Wayve as an extension of the company's previously announced Series C fundraising round. With the additional funding and support from Uber, Wayve intends to accelerate its work with global OEMs to enhance consumer vehicles with Level 2+ advanced driver assistance and Level 3 automated driving capabilities, while also working towards the development of globally scalable Level 4 autonomous vehicles for future deployment on Uber. Distinct from traditional AV approaches, Wayve has a unique focus on mapless end-to-end AI technology, designed to allow automated vehicles to operate without geofenced limits. The partnership envisions future Wayve-powered self-driving vehicles being made available on the Uber network in multiple markets around the world, bringing Wayve's leading technology to Uber's more than 150 million monthly global users...Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber: "Uber and Wayve share a vision of reimagining mobility for the better. Wayve's advanced Embodied AI approach holds a ton of promise as we work towards a world where modern vehicles are shared, electric and autonomous. We're thrilled to bring Wayve on as a partner to work alongside automakers as we continue to build out Uber as the best network for self-driving vehicles."

08:08 EDT Brown-Forman sees FY25 organic net sales up 2%-4% - Sees FY25 capital expenditures $195M-$205M. The company said, "We anticipate a return to growth for organic net sales and organic operating income in fiscal 2025 driven by gains in international markets and the benefit of normalizing inventory trends. This outlook is tempered by our belief that global macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties will continue to create a challenging operating environment."

08:05 EDT Innovative Eyewear says Lucyd Lyte frames now being sold on Target.com. - Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) announced that its Lucyd Lyte frames are now being sold on Target.com. (TGT)

08:04 EDT Nuvectis Pharma announces U.S. FDA granted ODD for NXP800 - Nuvectis Pharma announced that NXP800 was granted Orphan Drug Designation, ODD, by the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, for the treatment of AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1a, ARID1a, ARID1a-deficient ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers.

08:03 EDT Fenbo Holdings makes investment in U.S. AI focused fund - Fenbo Holdings has entered into a subscription agreement to make an initial $150,000 strategic investment in a U.S. Artificial Intelligence focused investment fund. This move positions Fenbo to leverage the Fund's expertise in AI technologies and permits it to evaluate the potential impact of AI on the development of the Company's products. The Fund is targeting capital commitments of up to $20M, although the general partner, in its sole discretion, may accept Capital Commitments of a lesser or greater amount. Its investment objective is to generate attractive returns for its limited partners, according to the terms of the Fund. The Fund is a Delaware limited partnership that will specialize in making direct venture capital investments in early-stage and growth-stage private technology companies, with a particular emphasis on financial technology, blockchain/web3, and enterprise technology. It is managed by a Delaware-based investment management firm. The investment Firm believes that AI represents a greater investment opportunity than the internet did at its inception - and that AI is a must-do investment opportunity. This year the Firm has been putting together a new Fund to invest into the leading private companies in this industry.

08:03 EDT Johnson & Johnson seeks first approval of nipocalimab in myasthenia gravis - Johnson & Johnson submitted a Biologics License Application - BLA - to the FDA seeking the first approval of nipocalimab globally for the treatment of people living with generalized myasthenia gravis, or gMG. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody disease in which autoantibodies target proteins at the neuromuscular junction, disrupt neuromuscular signaling, and impair or prevent muscle contraction. The disease impacts an estimated 700,000 people worldwide. The application included data from the Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study which showed that outcomes for a broad population of antibody positive participants who received nipocalimab plus standard of care were superior compared to those who received placebo plus SOC. The primary endpoint of the study measured improvement in the MG-ADLa score from baseline over 24 weeks and anti-LRP4+b antibody positive adults, making Vivacity-MG3 the first-and-only study to demonstrate sustained disease control in these subtypes. Safety and tolerability were consistent with other nipocalimab studies.

08:02 EDT iRhythm announces commercial launch of its Zio LTCM - iRhythm Technologies announced the commercial launch of its Zio monitor and Zio long-term continuous, LTCM, ambulatory ECG monitoring service in Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. The Zio monitor and ZEUS system received the European Union's CE Marking Under Medical Device Regulation, EU MDR, in December 2023. The Zio LTCM service provides up to 14 days of continuous, uninterrupted ECG monitoring, marking a significant advancement in these countries, compared to older, commonly used 24- to 48-hour Holter monitoring services. "Expanding access to our innovative Zio cardiac arrhythmia monitoring system and services for millions more people in Europe is an important milestone for iRhythm's patient-first mission to positively impact people across the globe," said Quentin Blackford, iRhythm President and CEO. "Our commitment extends to broadening our highly innovative digital healthcare solutions, while ensuring they are cost-effective and accessible worldwide."

07:40 EDT Adaptive Biotechnologies announces IVDR certification for clonoSEQ in EU - Adaptive Biotechnologies announced that clonoSEQ has received In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation 2017/746 Class C certification in the European Union.

07:38 EDT Kanzhun board authorizes up to $150M share repurchase program - KANZHUN announced that the Company's board of directors has authorized a new share repurchase program effective from August 29, 2024 for a 12-month period, under which the Company may additionally repurchase up to $150M of its shares, in a sign of confidence about the Company's continued growth in the future. This new share repurchase program will operate in conjunction with the existing share repurchase program that became effective on March 20, 2024, also for a 12-month period, under which the Company may repurchase up to $200M of its shares

07:37 EDT Onex to acquire Farsound, terms not disclosed - Onex Corporation announced that the Onex Partners Opportunities Fund has agreed to acquire Farsound, a global supply chain solutions provider for the aerospace engine maintenance, repair and overhaul market. The investment has been made in partnership with Farsound's management team, led by CEO Chris Knott. Financial terms were not disclosed. Headquartered in Brentwood, England, Farsound is focused on the procurement, supply, and inventory management of high-volume consumable hardware components for aerospace engine overhauls. The Company acts as a strategic partner to leading engine MRO providers, supporting key commercial engine platforms. Farsound enhances operational efficiency and engine turnaround times for its customers with its market-leading supply chain management and value-added services. Farsound operates out of four facilities in the UK, U.S., Canada, and Spain. The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

07:35 EDT Gain Therapeutics announces reuslts from Phase 1 study of GT-02287 - Gain Therapeutics announces positive results from the Phase 1 study conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of GT-02287. The Company previously announced that no discontinuations or serious adverse events were reported when the study concluded. The Phase 1 study enrolled 72 healthy volunteers, males and females, up to the age of 64 years. Review of unblinded data after database lock confirmed that single and multiple doses of GT-02287 were safe and generally well tolerated up to and including the highest planned dose levels across all age groups. GT-02287 was present in the cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral target engagement was demonstrated. The favorable safety and tolerability profile at oral dose levels that resulted in therapeutic plasma levels, CNS exposure, and target engagement further strengthens GT-02287's potential to be a lead treatment for Parkinson's disease in patients with or without a GBA1 mutation.

07:23 EDT Bowman contracted for taxiway survey services at Charlotte Douglas Intl Airport - Bowman Consulting Group as been contracted to immediately commence survey services for Taxiway V as part of the Fourth Parallel Runway Program at Charlotte Douglas International Airport n Charlotte, NC. Bowman's scope of work includes comprehensive survey services for the new 10,000-foot-long by 150-foot-wide runway, including as-built surveys, subgrade and field control verification and construction, electrical and storm sewer staking. This project represents a significant addition to Bowman's aviation portfolio and further solidifies the Company's position as a trusted industry service provider.

07:11 EDT Western Alaska Minerals announces assay results from drilling at Warm Springs - Western Alaska Minerals announced initial gold assay results from their first ever drilling at the Warm Springs target on the Illinois Creek project in western Alaska. Highlights: Two gold zones intercepted in drill hole IC24-0004: 1.29 g/t Au over 4.68 meters within massive pyrite, including: 12.5 g/t Au and 0.9% Cu over 0.18 meters; 2.13 g/t Au over 2.96 meters, including: 5.57 g/t Au over 1.01 meters; Discovery of a new and separate mineralized structure parallel to the Illinois Creek Fault, opening the potential of a new "spoke" to the system. First significant copper and gold mineralization intercepted since WAM initiated exploration in 2021. The gold bearing zone is located approximately 1.4 km southeast of the Illinois Creek gold-silver resource. "Finding gold at Warm Springs opens up a whole new gold target zone within the eight-kilometer-long trend between the Illinois Creek and Waterpump Creek resources," said Kit Marrs, founder and CEO of Western Alaska Minerals. "This is an exciting complement to our high-grade silver-zinc-lead resource at Waterpump Creek."

07:09 EDT Polestar sees stronger 2H, 'particularly in the fourth quarter' - As previously reported, sales momentum seen in the second quarter had a positive impact on inventory levels and cash flow. Polestar remains confident of a stronger second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter as sales of the two premium SUVs build.

07:08 EDT Xortx Therapeutics publishes research on xanthine oxidase - XORTX Therapeutics published research highlights that genetic factors are linked to the over-expression of xanthine oxidase and play a role in several diseases, including kidney disease. These ground-breaking findings further support the Company's approach to treating kidney and other diseases by inhibiting XO. Evidence for over-expression of XO in human PKD has not been reported to date, although work by Wang et al. suggests linkage of genetic factors to PKD. Recently, new emerging discoveries link genetic factors to specific populations and show that higher XO expression is associated with a variety of conditions including hyperuricemia, sepsis, organ failure and sepsis associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, PKD, and kidney failure. From a mechanistic standpoint, these studies advocate for a precision-medicine approach in which genetic risk variants would guide treatment decisions.

07:07 EDT Dollar General falls 20% to $98.50 after Q2 results miss, FY24 outlook lowered

07:06 EDT Immunocore CFO Brian Di Donato to depart - Immunocore Holdings announced that its CFO and Head of Strategy, Brian Di Donato, has informed the Company of his plans to leave at the end of the year. Mr. Di Donato has accepted the role of CEO at a private, early-stage biotech headquartered in San Diego, California. Immunocore will initiate a search for a new CFO. Brian will remain as the Company's CFO and Head of Strategy through the end of 2024, to ensure a smooth transition.

07:05 EDT POET reorganizes engineering team, plans closing of Allentown, PA operation - POET Technologies announced a reorganization of its engineering team to streamline design, component engineering and New Product Introduction activities globally, in response to active customer demand for 800G and higher products directed at the AI systems and hyperscale data center markets. While the major AI network and systems companies are located in North America and China, almost all module makers, including the Company's current customers for optical engines, are located in China, Taiwan and other Asia Pacific countries. To better serve these and other customers, POET has established a Global Engineering Organization based in Singapore, which will be led by Dr. Mo Jinyu, Senior Vice President, with the New Product Introduction and component engineering teams reporting to her. NPI is responsible for taking optical engine and module products from prototype design to initial manufacturing, coordinating with the product design and production teams along the way. All of these functions benefit from tight integration and geographic proximity. Critical product design and architecture, key customer relationships, global marketing & sales, and intellectual property management all continue to remain centered in Silicon Valley California, while the Company's finance, investor relations and other administrative functions are managed from its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. As a result of this reorganization, the functions of engineering design and manufacturing interface, previously managed by POET's Allentown, PA organization will be transferred to POET's Shenzhen operation, with other functions being transferred to Singapore. Compared to its annualized spend at the beginning of the year, the annual savings realized from the closing of Allentown on or before March 31, 2025, will be between $1.8 million and $2 million annually, with one-time costs estimated at approximately $250 thousand.

07:04 EDT Ecarx, MulticoreWare announce partnership - MulticoreWare is pleased to announce its partnership with ECARX Holdings. This collaboration focuses on enhancing performance for ECARX's advanced driving systems, integrating CPU, GPU, and DSP technologies. MulticoreWare achieved significant optimization of ECARX's vehicle software algorithms, which are now in operation in Lynk & Co 08 EM-P receiving positive market feedback. Through continued technological innovation and market practice, the intelligent driving technology products delivered by ECARX are providing users with a safer, more efficient, and personalized travel experience. MulticoreWare and ECARX will jointly optimize the performance of edge intelligent driving systems, enhancing the response times and accuracy of intelligent driving systems. The partnership will also aim to accelerate the time-to-market for mass production of products with utmost consideration for safety and robustness. ECARX's partnership with MulticoreWare underscores its commitment to creating a robust ecosystem with automotive software and hardware manufacturers, driving mutual success.

07:03 EDT SNDL makes succesful bid to acquire Indiva - SNDL announced that, in the context of proceedings pursuant to Indiva's filing under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act - CCAA -, Canada, and the sales and investment solicitation process, the stalking horse bid of SNDL has been chosen as the successful bid in the acquisition of the Indiva business and assets, subject to approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice overseeing the CCAA proceedings. SNDL's acquisition includes Indiva's facility in London, Ontario and a portfolio of owned and licensed brands including Pearls by Gron, No Future, Wana, and Bhang Chocolate. Indiva is a producer of cannabis edibles in Canada and produces award-winning products across a range of brands, with a portfolio of 7 brands and 53 listed SKUs, all manufactured in the company's 40,000 square foot production facility on Hargrieve Road in south London, Ontario. The transaction is anticipated to close during SNDL's Q4 following the receipt of all approvals.

06:59 EDT Spire Global signs waiver, amendment to Blue Torch Capital financing agreement - Spire Global entered into a waiver and amendment to its current financing agreement with Blue Torch Capital. The waiver and amendment waives events of default under the financing agreement arising out of the maximum debt to EBITDA leverage ratio on June 30 being greater than the required ratio and the failure to deliver the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended June 30; amends the financial covenants to provide immediate covenant relief from the leverage ratios in the financing agreement; provides for an amendment fee, which is 3.5% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the term loans on the effective date of the waiver and amendment and shall be paid-in-kind and added to the principal balance of the term loans; and allows for a reduction in the amendment fee under certain refinance or pre-payment scenarios. The waiver and amendment also requires the company to make a $10M payment toward the outstanding principal balance of the term loans under the financing agreement on August 31. As of June 30, the company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities of approximately $46M. The company is working to issue full financial results as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 as soon as practicable.

06:55 EDT Dollar General CEO says core customer 'feels financially constrained' - "We made important progress on our Back to Basics plan in the second quarter," said Todd Vasos, Dollar General's CEO. "However, despite advancing several of our operational goals and driving positive traffic growth, we are not satisfied with our financial results, including top line results below our expectations for the quarter. While we believe the softer sales trends are partially attributable to a core customer who feels financially constrained, we know the importance of controlling what we can control. With the evolving retail and consumer landscape in mind, we are taking decisive action to further enhance our value and convenience offering, as well as the in-store experience for our associates and customers. Dollar General has a long history of serving customers in a variety of macroeconomic environments, and we believe the actions we are taking will allow us to further strengthen our position and build on our Back to Basics progress, as we seek to deliver sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value."

06:36 EDT Nippon Steel announces project investments at Mon Valley Works, Gary Works - Nippon Steel Corporation (NPSCY) announced additional project investments to be made at Mon Valley Works and Gary Works, as part of its pending acquisition of United States Steel Corporation (X). The investments announced today are major growth investments and represent additional capital spending that will extend the production life of two of U. S. Steel's critical integrated assets and enhance the security of steel supply to American manufacturers. The investments will require significant expenditures beyond calendar year 2026 and are incremental to the $1.4B capital commitment previously announced by Nippon Steel, which will be allocated towards maintenance and other necessary capital investments in the existing BLA-covered facilities. The details of the announced investments are as follows: Mon Valley Works - Replace and/or Upgrade the Existing Hot Strip Mill and Other Facilities at Mon Valley: Nippon Steel will invest no less than $1B to enhance the competitiveness of the Mon Valley Works, including improving yield, increasing energy efficiency, improving product quality, and enhancing overall operating effectiveness. Nippon Steel plans to ensure Mon Valley Works operates for decades to come and will undertake the necessary investments so that it remains viable and provides jobs for future generations of steelworkers in Pennsylvania. As part of that commitment and following the closing of the Transaction, Nippon Steel will replace and/or upgrade the existing hot strip mill at Mon Valley Works and other facilities. Nippon Steel believes that a transformed Mon Valley Works will expand U. S. Steel's ability to serve a broader range of markets and customers, create additional high-grade steel capabilities, strengthen the competitive positioning of Mon Valley's blast furnace operations, and secure American steel supply. Gary Works - Revamping of Blast Furnace #14: Under Nippon Steel's ownership, U. S. Steel's blast furnace operations will benefit. As part of that, Nippon Steel will invest approximately $300M to revamp Blast Furnace #14 at Gary Works. Through the revamping, the facility's operational life is expected to extend by up to 20 years. Revamping Blast Furnace #14 will also allow U. S. Steel to realize significant operational benefits, while customers will benefit from the continuation of environmentally friendly blast furnace production at Gary Works as well as from Nippon Steel's world-leading capabilities for automotive flat steel. Other USW-Represented Facilities: Nippon Steel continues to see numerous opportunities for technology transfer to U. S. Steel following the closing of the transaction to reduce the environmental footprint and extend the longevity of the USW-represented facilities. The project investments are subject to the closing of the Transaction and receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals. Detailed design and specification of those investments will be determined through further engineering studies. Nippon Steel expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the fulfillment of the remaining customary closing conditions, including receipt of required U.S. regulatory approvals.

06:32 EDT Merck discontinuing Phase 3 KEYNOTE-867, KEYNOTE-630 trials - Merck provided updates on two Phase 3 trials, KEYNOTE-867 and KEYNOTE-630. Merck is discontinuing the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-867 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA, Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with stereotactic body radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer, including those who are medically inoperable or have refused surgery. This decision is based on the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee, which reviewed data from a planned interim analysis. At the pre-specified interim analysis, KEYTRUDA in combination with SBRT did not demonstrate an improvement in event-free survival or overall survival, the study's primary endpoint and key secondary endpoint, respectively, compared to placebo plus SBRT, and the benefit/risk profile of the combination did not support continuing the trial. KEYTRUDA in combination with SBRT was associated with higher rates of adverse events, including AEs leading to death, compared with SBRT and placebo. Merck is also discontinuing the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-630 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA for the adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma following surgery and radiation, based on the recommendation of an independent DMC. The DMC recommended that the study should be stopped for futility as the risk/benefit profile did not support continuing the trial. Data from a pre-planned analysis showed that KEYTRUDA did not cross the boundary for statistical significance in recurrence-free survival, the study's primary endpoint. The study's key secondary endpoint, OS, was not formally tested, but at the time of the analysis, the results did not favor KEYTRUDA compared to placebo. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA in this trial was consistent with the established safety profile of KEYTRUDA. Merck has informed study investigators and advises patients in the studies to speak to their study team and physician regarding next steps and treatment options. Data analyses for KEYNOTE-867 and KEYNOTE-630 are ongoing, and the results will be shared with the scientific community and regulatory agencies.

06:10 EDT CIBC to repurchase up to 20M common shares - CIBC announced its intention to purchase for cancellation up to 20M common shares under a normal course issuer bid, subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Common shares that may be purchased for cancellation represent approximately 2.1% of outstanding common shares as at July 31, 2024.

05:38 EDT So-Young receives noncompliance notification from Nasdaq - So-Young announced it has received a notification letter from the staff of Nasdaq, indicating that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price of the company's American depositary shares was below the minimum bid price of $1.00 per share requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450. The notice has no current effect on the listing or trading of the company's ADSs on Nasdaq.

05:27 EDT Safety Shot announces partnership with e-commerce platform Vendo - Safety Shot announced a partnership with multi-purpose e-commerce platform Vendo. Vendo is a platform company that works directly with brands to drive strategic and sustainable growth across the digital ecommerce ecosystem.

05:06 EDT Noah Holdings announces $50M share repurchase program - The board of directors of the company authorized a share repurchase program under which the company may repurchase up to $50M of its American depositary shares or ordinary shares, effective immediately. The authorized term for carrying out this share repurchase program is two years.