Briefing.com: Hourly In Play (R) – 10:00 ET

Dec 01, 2009 (Briefing.com via COMTEX) -- Hourly In Play (R)Updated: 01-Dec-09 10:00 ET09:53ESI Sector Laggards -Update- -Technical-Sectors that are lagging amid the early broad based strength include: Education (ESI -3.2%, COCO -2.8%, APOL -2.3%, CECO -2.1%, DV -1.7%, LOPE -1.7%, STRA -1.5%, Reg Bank RKH -0.05%, and Treasuries (LQD failed near its Sep high yesterday, TLT failed at its 200 sma)09:52MOS Mosaic launches higher off the opening to challenge last week's November peak of 57.42 (57.21 +2.76) -Update- -Technical-09:52FSLR First Solar pops higher out of opening consolidation (121.76 +2.65)09:52GLD streetTRACKS Gold Shares slip to modest gap up opening lows as it comes back into last wk's momentum high of 116.88 (116.95 +1.30) -Update- -Technical-09:49V Visa showing Relative Strength as price stages a breakout above its November consolidation highs along $82 area (82.64 +1.64) -Technical-09:48CVD Covance to establish a new nutritional chemistry and food safety laboratory in Battle Creek, Michigan (53.76 +0.65)Co announced that it will create a nutritional chemistry and food safety laboratory in Battle Creek, Michigan. Co plans to invest ~$14 million to acquire and renovate a 30,000 square foot building on East Hamblin Avenue. The laboratory is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2010, and will create ~40 new jobs over time. Covance expects to receive ~$4.3 million in combined financial incentives from the state of Michigan and Battle Creek. In addition, Covance has entered into a 7-year, $42 million strategic services contract with Kellogg (K) to consolidate much of the food company's analytical chemistry, microbiology, and stability testing with Covance. Kellogg's will be an anchor client in this new facility.09:47ECONX Reminder: ISM Index, Construction Spending, and Pending Home Sales data due out in about 13 min at 10:00ET09:47GS Goldman Sachs shares relatively weak as price reverses to session lows (106.41 -.25) -Technical-09:46ISYS Integral Systems unit selected to upgrade Utah Test and Training Range Frequency Control and Analysis system (8.97 +0.08)Co announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, SAT Corporation, was awarded a $4.3 million, 18-month contract to upgrade the Utah Test and Training Range Frequency Control and Analysis system. SAT Corporation's SigMon Radio Frequency (RF) Interference Detection and Geolocation Solution will provide full RF spectrum monitoring for training and test missions involving extended range operations.09:42GLD Sector Watch -Technical-Early sector leadership has come from: Gold/Silver +3.6% (GLD +1.3%, SLV +1.9%), Solar +2.6%, Coal +2.5%, Ag/Chem MOO +2.5%, Disk Drive +2.3%, Semi SMH +2.2%, Materials XLB +2%, Oil Service OIH +1.9%, Energy XLE +1.8%, Shipping SEA +1.8%.09:40USEG U.S. Energy announces a public offering of 5 mln shares of common stock (6.04 +0.10)09:37JCG J. Crew gaps up, hovering modestly below its 52-wk close high from last week at 44.05 (43.95 +1.16) -Technical-The Nov range top/52-wk intraday highs are at 44.29/44.45.09:36LOW Lowe's shares edge higher as price probes/challenges clear near-term technical resistance at the 22.25 level (22.21 +.40) -Technical-HoD now @ that 22.25 number09:36GES Guess gaps higher to challenge its October/November highs along the 41.21/41.34 area (41.58 +4.53) -Update- -Technical-09:34NKE Nike vacillating near last week's high of 65.87, its Nov-Oct/52-wk highs are at 66.34/66.35 (65.86 +0.97) -Technical-09:32MA MasterCard approaches its 52-wk close high from Nov at 242.19 (242.07 +1.21) -Technical-Its 52-wk intraday high is at 242.93.09:31ISRG Intuitive Surgical shares see slight early gap up into the recent Nov. range tops/resistance surrounding the 283.00 mark (283.75 +3.21) -Technical-Price inches to fresh 52 week highs off the open up @ 284.09:31QTWW Quantum Fuel supplies fueling technology and systems to shell for JFK Airport hydrogen refueling station in New York City (1.30 +0.05) -Update-Co announces that it has supplied hydrogen refueling technology and key hydrogen infrastructure equipment for the Shell Hydrogen public re-fueling station in New York City, located prominently at the entrance to John F. Kennedy International Airport.09:31GNBT Generex Biotech: Duane Reade Holdings to carry Crave-NX 7-Day Diet Aid Spray (0.47 +0.02)Co announced that the Company's proprietary Crave-NX 7-Day Diet Aid Spray will soon be available in Duane Reade's 256 drugstores throughout New York City.09:30C Citigroup awarded contract renewal and extension of fund services to Victory (4.15 +0.05)Co announces that it has been awarded a contract renewal that also includes an extension of its fund services to Victory Capital Management and to the Victory Funds. Specifically, Citi will continue to provide sub-administration and sub-fund accounting to Victory Capital Management and transfer agency support services to the Victory Funds. As an extension of the mandate, Citi will now serve as Global Custodian to the Victory Funds.09:30RBI Sport Supply Group retires convertible debentures (10.77 +0.05)Co announced it has retired all of its outstanding 5.75% subordinated convertible debentures. Co had $28.9 mln in outstanding convertible debentures that were repaid today via cash on-hand and borrowings underneath the Company's $40.0 Mln revolving credit facility. The borrowings under the Company's credit facility bear interest, subject to consolidated leverage ratios, at LIBOR plus 1.25%. Based upon today's LIBOR rate, the interest rate on borrowings would approximate 1.49% per annum. The Company estimates that it will save approximately $2.1 mln in interest expense for the 12 months ending June 30, 2010 as compared to the 12 months ended June 30, 2009 as a result of these lower interest rates and reduced borrowings.09:26STEC STEC Inc SSDs now qualified across Fujitsu's storage system offerings with latest integration into new ETERNUS DX80 platform (12.39 )Co announces that Fujitsu Storage Systems has qualified the industry-leading ZeusIOPS within the innovative design of its recently announced DX80 Storage System. The integration further expands Fujitsu's SSD deployment of STEC SSDs from the high-end ETERNUS DX8000 and mid-range ETERNUS DX400, where ZeusIOPS performance advantages are also being leveraged.09:20GMCR Green Mtn Coffee issues statement; confident that a combination with Diedrich will benefit consumers by enhancing the robust choice of products (62.98 ) -Update-Co issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET) ) has submitted a revised offer to acquire Diedrich Coffee (DDRX) for $32.50 per share in a combination of cash and stock. "We are focused on creating value for our shareholders. In that regard, we remain firmly committed to this strategic combination and are in the process of evaluating our next steps. GMCR is confident that a combination with Diedrich will benefit consumers by enhancing the robust choice of products. With respect to timing, GMCR noted that it has thoroughly evaluated this transaction and is confident it can close promptly in early 2010. The coffee and coffee maker businesses are very large and highly fragmented and GMCR's sales constitute just a small fraction in each. GMCR believes that Peet's comments regarding a perceived timing advantage are significantly exaggerated and that Peet's is now resorting to misrepresentations in the absence of being able to offer significantly more value to Diedrich shareholders. Additionally, GMCR's all-cash offer continues to be the superior proposal of record. In contrast, Peet's offer has a significant stock component and its shares have demonstrated significant volatility over the last 90 days. GMCR believes that Diedrich shareholders will recognize that a transaction with Peet's would result in a highly leveraged company."09:15VNR Vanguard Natural Resources prices 2.25 mln share public offering at $18 per share (18.82 )The Company expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $38.5 million (or $44.4 mln if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase an additional 337,500 common units) from the offering and intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to redeem 250,000 common units from one of its unitholders, Nami Capital Partners and to repay indebtedness outstanding under its reserve-based credit facility.09:15NEOG Neogen acquires Gen-Probe's BioKits food safety business (32.54 )Co announces that it has acquired the BioKits food safety business of Gen-Probe Inc (GPRO). The acquisition includes more than 50 test kits for food allergens, meat and fish speciation, and plant genetics. Gen-Probe elected to divest the food safety business of United Kingdom-based Tepnel as it did not fit into its long-term strategic plans. Tepnel's food safety business is a freestanding operation employing approximately 25 people in Deeside, Wales. Tepnel was founded in 1992, and its food safety business is expected to record revenues of approximately $3 mln this year. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.09:10STP Suntech Power signs 17MW memorandum of understanding with Pure energies, expanding its footprint in Ontario solar market (14.95 )Co announces it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Canada's Pure energies to supply up to 17MW in 2010. The MOU, which also provides a framework for module supply from Suntech to Pure energies through 2011, is focused on bringing solar systems to Ontario's rapidly growing residential solar market. Pure energies, while meeting the domestic content requirement for 2010, will deploy STP's panels for its offering to the Ontario residential market, enabling the development of 'eco friendly' homes.09:08On The WiresJohnson Controls-Saft, a JV of Johnson Controls (JCI) and Saft, announces that it has been chosen as the Lithium-ion battery supplier for Azure Dynamic's Force Drive integration on the Ford Transit Connect Battery Electric Vehicle. The all-electric van will be in production beginning in late 2010... Jacobs Engineering Group (JEC) announces that it was awarded a contract from South East Water Ltd. of the United Kingdom to provide program management, design, construction, and construction management services associated with South East Water's estimated 400 million pounds Sterling Asset Management Plan 5 Capital Investment Programme for 2010-2015. The contract includes the option to extend the provision of services through AMP6 to 2020.09:05AZK Aurizon Mines intersects 12.5 grams of gold per tonne over 11 metres at Casa Berardi confirming continuity of zone 120 (4.95 )The priority of the current program is to delineate inferred mineral resources and transfer those resources to the indicated category by closer-spaced drilling. Part of the current program is focussed along Zone 120, located between a vertical depth of approximately 650 and 1,100 metres, approximately 650 metres east of the West Mine production shaft. Since the results announced on Sept 1, 2009, a section totalling thirteen (13) holes at an average spacing of 25-50 metres has been completed, to cover most of the inferred resources block. Holes were collared from the 810 metre level exploration drift. The results from these new holes confirm the continuity of the mineralization encountered in previous holes and confirms thicknesses over 20 metres in the zone, as in hole CBP-0073 which intersected 8.1 grams per tonne over 24 metres (true thickness). A drilling budget of $15 million for infill and exploration purposes was approved for this year to complete 40,000 metres of underground and surface drilling and 1,900 metres of underground drift access. Eleven (11) rigs are active on the property. The new results will be integrated into a new mineral resources estimate on Zone 120, as of Dec 31, 2009. Drilling will continue from the 810 metre level exploration drift to infill the current resources outline and to test possible lateral and down dip extensions of the gold mineralization. "These new holes confirm the continuity in thickness and grade of the Zone and indicate an excellent potential to extend the known mineralized limits further to the east and up dip toward the Principal Zone."09:04CSE CapitalSource announces sale of remaining net lease assets (3.67 )The co announces it closed yesterday on the sale of 37 skilled nursing homes for an all-cash sales price of $100 million. The Company will use the proceeds to repay $55 million of debt associated with the assets sold, with the remainder adding to parent company liquidity. "This transaction is the final step in the monetization of our net lease portfolio. Together with an estimated $331 million in cash and stock from our recently announced sale of 143 facilities to Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) and our anticipated net HUD mortgage financing proceeds of $119 million, we expect to generate a total of approximately $495 million when all of the associated closings are completed. That cash will be used to substantially reduce the balance on our syndicated bank facility and will add meaningfully to parent company liquidity," commented John K. Delaney, CapitalSource Chairman and CEO.09:03TEVA Teva Pharm: Codexis expands collaboration with Teva (52.79 )Codexis announced an expansion of its relationship and the signing of its second agreement this year with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. The new agreement covers three undisclosed pharmaceutical products. Under the new agreement, Teva will use Codexis biocatalysis technology for key process steps in the manufacture of the covered generic products. Codexis develops proprietary custom biocatalysts which contribute to lower pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing costs. The company's technology is in use by leading drug companies worldwide. Financial terms were not disclosed.09:03MOS Mosaic Announces Sale of Thailand Business (54.45 )Co announces the sale of its Thailand distribution business to I C P Fertilizer Co., Ltd. The co notes that the sale of this business is another step toward increasing Mosaic's alignment of its global distribution network with its North American production assets. The transaction will be recorded in the second quarter ended November 30, 2009.09:01SGEN Seattle Genetics announces that data from its brentuximab vedotin and dacetuzumab programs will be reported at the upcoming American Society of Hematology meeting (9.28 )09:01VOXW Voxware announced that the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has awarded a five year contract to Voxware for the deployment of its Voxware 3 software product (1.51 )09:01TRIT Tri-Tech Holding announces $1 mln in remote monitoring system upgrade work at 16 sewage pumping stations in Tianjin, China (22.55 )08:59HWK Hawk Corp repurchases $10 mln of its 8.75% senior notes (16.30 )08:55AYI Acuity Brands announced that its wholly-owned operating subsidiary Acuity Brands Lighting intends to offer $400 mln aggregate principal amount of its sr unsecured notes in a private offering (32.28 )The co also announced that it has commenced a tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding 8.375% Notes due 2010.08:51BONDX Hit -06/32 3.222%...euro 1.5079...yen 87.8600Hit: The market is backing off as safety plays are drained away and concerns over Dubai lessened further, helping equities higher. The 10-yr has backed off to take the yield up to 3.234% as global bonds are generally offered, while Japan is seeing a huge run up as rates are expected to remain at their extreme lows on BOJ actions. Longer treasuries will remain under pressure and trade very thin as the Dubai issues are dealt with and now that month end support is taken away. Bonds will be eyeing the day's data, but without significant misses on consensus will likely take little from the reports ahead of Friday's jobs data. The 3-mo dollar Libor rate was set lower after consecutive pushes higher. Additional "quantitative easing" measures by the BOJ during an add-on meeting sent their bonds soaring as the yen was pressured even as some say they have not done enough as currency intervention was left off the menu. The curve has been twisted steeper with the 2-10-yr yield spread 256.8, back to Friday levels. The dollar has been dragged down to take the index under 74.50, along with the yen which saw 87.50 for the first time since before the holiday and the UAE problems. The yen is also back off to giving up 131.00 on the euro, which has returned to just shy of the 151.00 against the buck. EuroLand unemployment remained at 9.8% after an upward revision for September, near the worst levels since late 1998. The day offers a smaller $31B in 4-wks while data has construction spending, the ISM and pending home sales hit (10), with the vehicle sales hitting all day. Philly Fed's Plosser speaks on the economy (12)08:45EXXI Energy XXI announces concurrent offerings of common stock and convertible perpetual preferred stock (2.25 )Co announces that it has commenced, subject to market conditions, concurrent underwritten public offerings of 90 mln shares of its common stock and $75 mln (750,000 shares) of convertible perpetual preferred stock. The company also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 13.5 mln additional shares of its common stock and 75,000 additional shares of its preferred stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these offerings to fund its previously announced acquisition of certain Gulf of Mexico shelf oil and natural gas interests from MitEnergy Upstream LLC, a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co.08:36On The WiresHealth Net of Arizona, a subsidary of Health Net (HNT), and Phoenix Children's Hospital have renewed a two-year contract that will continue to provide Health Net members access to health care at PCH and its two new urgent care centers located in the East and Northwest Valley... Wegener Corp (WGNR) announces that it has received an order for $534K to upgrade an existing background music network... Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA) announces the submission of a Biologics License Application with the FDA for XM02, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for the reduction in the duration of severe neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with established myelosuppressive chemotherapy for cancer... Capstone Turbine (CPST) announces that has signed two C1000 Factory Protection Plan (FPP) contracts in Europe for renewable clean energy projects. The FPP contracts are valued at ~ $1.8 mln over a 15-year period.08:36CRY CryoLife sees FY10 EPS of $0.36-$0.40 (vs $0.36 consensus); sees revs of $118-123 mln (vs $124.7 mln consensus)For 2010, the co expects EPS of $0.36-0.40 (vs $0.36 consensus). The co expects total revenues for the full year of 2010 to be between $118.0-$123.0 mln (vs $124.7 mln consensus), which includes between $1.5 million and $2.5 million related to funding received from the Department of Defense in connection with the development of BioFoam. The co expects tissue processing and BioGlue revenues to increase between mid-single and low-double digits on a percentage basis in 2010 compared to 2009, with HemoStase revenues increasing significantly more than that on a percentage basis.08:35ISLE Isle of Capri beats by $0.11, misses on revs (7.57 )Reports Q2 (Oct) earnings of $0.06 per share, ex-$0.01 in a loss from discontinued operations, $0.11 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.05); revenues fell 1.7% year/year to $247.4 mln vs the $250.2 mln consensus. "We are employing different strategies in each market to best position our operations for long-term financial success, and as a result, we have increased market share, EBITDA or operating margins in at least one-half of our properties since last year."08:34AXU Alexco Resources announces additional results from its 2009 exploration core drilling program at the Keno Hill Project (2.71 )Co announces additional results from its 2009 exploration core drilling program at the Keno Hill Project, Yukon. Exploration drilling on the #5 vein system, one of several vein systems occurring in the vicinity of the historical Silver King mine, has intersected silver-rich mineralization approximately 160 meters northeast of previous Alexco drilling in 2006 and 2007. DDH K09-218 cut an interval grading: 1,932 grams per tonne silver (56.4 ounces per ton), 11.3% lead and 0.4% zinc over 2.55 meters from 201.85 to 204.40 within a 7.65 meter interval grading 679 grams per tonne silver (19.8 ounces per ton), 3.9% lead and 0.2% zinc from 201.85 to 209.50 meters. The 2009 drill hole intersected the Silver King #5 vein lower in the geologic section than previously tested, encountering significant mineralization which remains open both along strike to the northeast and down dip to the southeast. The majority of the historical Silver King resource, described below, is present within the #5 vein system which is also well accessed by historical underground development.08:32CPST Capstone Turbine signs $1.8 million in new long-term service contracts; service backlog increases to over $17 million (1.27 )08:31DXR Daxor Corporation announced that the Medical University of South Carolinahas purchased a Blood Volume Analyzer BVA-100 to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions (14.75 )08:30API Advanced Photonix awarded telecom undersea contract valued at over $700,000 (0.65 )08:26WLP WellPoint issues updated guidance following the completion of NextRx sale to ESRX (54.03 )Co issues in-line guidance for FY09 (Dec), sees EPS of $5.86-5.92, excluding $3.54 net in non-recurring items, vs. $5.88 First Call consensus; previous guidance was for EPS of $5.06-5.12.08:16On The WiresPalatin Technologies (PTN) announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,622,440, titled "Cyclic Natriuretic Peptide Constructs." ... China Sky One Medical (CSKI) announces that the Co has engaged Guangdong Mediacy Kind Medical Devices Industry Service Company to serve as its exclusive sales agent for the Company's AMI Diagnostic Kit and Human Urinary Albumin Elisa Kit in Southeast Asia... Pluristem Therapeutics (PSTI) announces that it has completed dosing of the first of three dosage groups of patients in Europe with its placenta-derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD, in a Phase I dose-escalating clinical trial for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the end-stage of peripheral artery disease... Coventry Health Care (CVH) and Medco Health Solutions (MHS) announce the launch of the Coventry Outcomes Study of Seniors to develop a care model that could significantly reduce hospitalizations and their related costs for the Medicare population... Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (DOW), and Agrisoma Biosciences announce the signing of a research and commercial license option agreement. The agreement provides Dow AgroSciences with access to Agrisoma's proprietary Engineered Trait Loci technology on an exclusive basis in major food crops, and on a non-exclusive basis, in other crop species... Myriad Pharmaceuticals (MYRX) announces the initiation of a Phase 2b study of MPC-4326, a first-in-class, small molecule inhibitor of HIV-1 maturation.08:08LDR Landauer, Inc. reports EPS in-line, beats on revs (56.88 )Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $0.56 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of $0.56; revenues rose 2.2% year/year to $23 mln vs the $22.7 mln consensus. Landauer's business plan for fiscal 2010 anticipates currently aggregate revenue growth for the year to be in the range of 25-30% (we calcualte this to be revs of $117-122 mln vs the $128.9 mln consensus), with the recently completed acquisitions contributing 20 to 23 percent of the growth. The business plan anticipates expense spending of $2.5-3.5 million to support the successful completion of the co's systems initiative and the related post implementation support. The co anticipates a net income increase in the range of 4-8 percent, excluding the impact of transaction related fees in fiscal 2010 and the fiscal 2009 after tax impact of pension curtailment and management reorganization charges of $1.8 million 9we calcualte this to be net income of $26.2-27.2 mln vs the $27.25 mln consensus).08:08GE General Electric's GE Healthcare acquires Living Independently Group (16.02 ) -Update-GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric, announced that it has acquired Living Independently Group, Inc., the provider of QuietCare(R), a passive monitoring system used to assist in the care of seniors. The acquisition follows the September 2008 announcement that GE Healthcare had acquired a minority ownership stake in Living Independently Group and that the two companies had agreed to market and co-develop the QuietCare technology globally. Financial terms were not disclosed.08:05RDEA Ardea Biosciences reports "positive" results from combination of RDEA594 and Febuxostat (13.46 )Co announces positive results from the first dosing group of an ongoing drug-drug interaction and pharmacodynamic study of RDEA594, its lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout, and febuxostat. This randomized, placebo-controlled study in normal healthy volunteers with baseline serum urate levels of greater than 5 mg/dL is designed to evaluate the potential for pharmacokinetic drug interactions, as well as the serum urate-lowering effect, safety and tolerability of escalating doses of RDEA594, administered once-daily in combination with 40 mg febuxostat. In the first two periods of the initial dosing group, 18 subjects received either 200 mg of RDEA594 QD or matching placebo for 7 days or 40 mg of febuxostat QD for 7 days, and then the combination of the two regimens for 7 days. The combination of RDEA594 and febuxostat in this first dosing group was well tolerated and no pharmacokinetic drug interactions were observed. After one week of dosing as monotherapy, both RDEA594 and febuxostat produced a mean reduction in serum urate of approximately 40% from baseline. When administered in combination for 7 days, the two agents produced a mean reduction in serum urate of approximately 60% from baseline, with intraday reductions of almost 75%. No clinically relevant adverse effects or laboratory abnormalities were observed during administration of RDEA594. Two subjects experienced grade 2 increases in a liver enzyme while receiving febuxostat alone. Based on these positive results, the co has initiated a second dosing group evaluating 400 mg of RDEA594 QD in combination with 40 mg of febuxostat QD.08:04UTI Universal Technical Institute beats by $0.13, beats on revs (18.89 )Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $0.32 per share, $0.13 better than the First Call consensus of $0.19; revenues rose 17.6% year/year to $99.5 mln vs the $95.4 mln consensus. "During fiscal 2010, we anticipate the positive momentum in our key leading indicators to continue and anticipate student contracts, student starts and average undergraduate full-time student enrollment for the full year to grow year over year on a percentage basis in the low to mid teens. Due to the seasonality of our business and normal fluctuations in student populations, we would expect volatility in our quarterly results."08:04DDRX Diedrich Coffee says it is evaluating further revised offer from Peet's Coffee & Tea -Update-Co announces that on the evening of Monday, November 30, 2009, it received a revised offer from Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET) to pay to Diedrich Coffee's stockholders a value of $32.50 per share in a combination of cash and Peet's stock. Under the revised proposal, Diedrich Coffee's stockholders would receive, for each share of Diedrich Coffee common stock, a stock component consisting of 0.321 of a share of Peet's common stock plus a cash component in an amount between $21.265 and $22.870 such that the value of the total consideration paid per Diedrich Coffee share will be equal to $32.50, provided that Peet's common stock has a value between $30.00 and $35.00 per share. If Peet's volume-weighted average stock price over the five trading days prior to the completion of the exchange offer is $30.00 or less, the value per share received by Diedrich Coffee's stockholders would be less than $32.50 and if Peet's volume-weighted average stock price over that same period is $35.00 or higher, the value per share received by Diedrich Coffee's stockholders would be greater than $32.50. Peet's submitted its revised offer in response to Diedrich Coffee's announcement on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, that the Diedrich Coffee Board of Directors had determined that the $32.00 per share all-cash offer it had received from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) continued to be a Superior Proposal to Peet's prior offer. In light of the different forms of consideration in the current Peet's offer and the current GMCR offer, the Board of Directors of Diedrich Coffee is analyzing the two offers to determine whether the GMCR offer continues to be a Superior Proposal to the terms of the Peet's merger agreement and the exchange offer contemplated thereby. Diedrich Coffee intends to make an announcement promptly after a determination is reached by the Board of Directors.08:03LZR Emergent Group declares annual dividend of 40 cents per share, an increase of 33% from prior year (6.89 )08:03TSL Trina Solar announces China market sales updates (46.58 )Co announces the recent progress of its PV module sales in the Chinese domestic PV market. In Q4, Trina Solar entered into a new sales agreement to supply approximately 8 MW of PV modules products. Shipments commenced in November and are scheduled to continue through to the end of Dec. The Company also recently received government approval for a project of approximately 2 MW under the Golden Sun program, which aims to install approximately 20 MW of solar power capacity in every province.08:02MDCO The Medicines Co comfirms it receives European approval for Angiox for use in heart attack patients undergoing emergency heart procedures (7.84 ) -Update-Co confirms that it has received European approval for the use of Angiox as an anticoagulant in patients with heart attacks (so-called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing emergency heart procedures called primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The Commission Decision extends the current EU licence for Angiox and is applicable to all Member States of the European Union/European Economic Area. A positive CHMP opinion to include this new patient population was announced by the Company on October 23rd. Launch of Angiox in the new indication is planned for January 2010.08:01RFMD RF Micro Device shipments of RFMD's industry-leading 2G transmit module surpass 25 million, are expected to exceed 100 million units in calendar 2010 (4.32 )08:01BPHX Blue Phoenix awarded $1.2 mln contract from leading business process and information technology services parter (2.61 )08:01IT Gartner Enters into Agreement to Acquire AMR Research for ~ $64 mln (18.92 )Co announces that it has agreed to acquire AMR Research for ~ $64 mln in cash, subject to certain closing adjustments. With projected full year 2009 revenues of ~ $40 mln, AMR Research is a leading research and advisory services firm serving supply chain management and IT professionals. Gartner does not expect the acquisition of AMR Research to have a material impact on its 2009 financial results, but does expect it to be significantly accretive to its revenue, earnings and cash flow over time. On a reported GAAP basis, which includes the impact of estimated acquisition and integration related charges, the transaction is expected to be dilutive to income per share by ($0.11) - ($0.09) in 2010 and accretive to income per share by at least $0.01 - $0.04 in 2011. Excluding estimated acquisition and integration related charges, the transaction is expected to be modestly accretive to income per share in 2010 and add at least $0.04 - $0.06 to income per share in 2011.08:01HL Hecla Mining declares payment of preferred stock dividends in arrears and current preferred dividends (6.61 )Co announced that its Board of Directors has elected to declare and pay all dividends in arrears and the next scheduled quarterly dividend for each of its outstanding series of preferred stock. In each case, the dividend will be payable January 4, 2010, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2009. The Hecla Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock will be paid in cash for the dividends in arrears of $3.50 per share and the regular quarterly dividend of $0.875 per share. There are 157,816 shares of Series B outstanding. For Hecla's 6.5% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the dividends in arrears of $6.50 per share and the regularly quarterly dividend of $1.625 per share will be paid in shares of common stock of Hecla, as permitted by the Certificate of Designations. Hecla is paying the dividend in common shares to preserve cash for its exploration and development programs. There are 2,012,500 shares of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding.08:01ICFI ICF International to acquire Jacob & Sundstrom (27.00 )The co announces that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Jacob & Sundstrom, an approximately 160-person information technology security co specializing in providing cybersecurity and identity management services to U.S. federal civilian and defense agencies. ICF expects Jacob & Sundstrom to generate revenue of approximately $24 million in 2009. The all-cash purchase will be funded through ICF's existing bank credit line. ICF expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings beginning in the first quarter of 2010.07:59ALTR Altera raises Q4 sales growth outlook (21.03 )The co last night raised its Q4 sales outlook; it now expects sales for the fourth quarter to be 15-18% above third quarter levels (we calculate this to be revs of $330-338 mln vs the $326 mln consensus), previous guidance was for sales growth of 6-10%. The company expects all four of its vertical markets to be up sequentially in the fourth quarter reflecting a strong new product cycle as well as improving end market trends and customer desire for appropriate inventory to support sales levels. Sales to wireline and wireless telecommunications equipment manufacturers will likely be the largest contributor to fourth quarter growth as demand for Chinese and Indian deployments has continued to improve.07:52On The WiresINX, Inc., (INXI) announced that it has been recognized by Cisco Systems as an Advanced Technology Provider of Cisco's (CSCO) Unified Customer Voice Portal solution... Hydrogenics Corporation (HYGS) announced that it has been awarded a contract for two HySTAT electrolyzers for the Surgutskaya GRES-2 power plant in Siberia. The Russian facility, which provides electricity to roughly 40% of the region's population, uses hydrogen as a cooling agent, and the systems are expected to be delivered during the first quarter of 2010... Houston American Energy Corp. (HUSA) announced that it has reached an agreement to place up to 3,000,000 shares of its common stock to select institutional investors at $4.68 per share in a registered direct offering for gross proceeds of ~$14 million, before deducting placement agents' fees and estimated offering expenses. The transaction is expected to close on or about December 4, 2009, subject to customary closing conditions.07:49BECN Beacon Roofing Supply beats by $0.04, reports revs in-line (15.37 )Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $0.42 per share, $0.04 better than the First Call consensus of $0.38; revenues fell 14.0% year/year to $487.7 mln vs the $489.2 mln consensus.07:49NLST NetList says legal action filed by Inphi is without merit (5.76 )Co announced that the legal action filed by Inphi is without merit and appears to be in response to the patent infringement action filed by Netlist against Inphi in September 2009. In September, Netlist sued Inphi alleging that Inphi's iMB line of isolation memory buffer integrated circuits infringe Netlist's U.S. Patent No. 7,532,537. Netlist is seeking monetary damages and has requested an injunction barring Inphi from making and selling infringing product and from inducing others to infringe any of the claims of the '537 patent. Netlist's management and its legal team have reviewed the Inphi patents and believe that Inphi's claims are without merit and will fail in court. "The products we are bringing to market, including HyperCloud memory, are important innovations, and they are based on our robust portfolio of intellectual property... We will continue to vigorously assert our intellectual property against Inphi and any others that make unlawful use of our IP."07:43On The WiresChangda International Holdings has received a first commercial order for it product Thiophene from Sanofi Aventis (SNY). The order was preceded by a rigid due diligence process undertaken by Sanofi on Changda International and its products... Sentinelle Medical and Siemens (SI) Healthcare announced at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, that they are collaborating on the development of a suite of innovative solutions for Interventional Prostate MRI... InterOil Corporation (IOC) announced that its Antelope-2 well flowed at 705 million cubic feet of natural gas per day including 11,200 barrels of condensate per day for a total 129,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The surface flowing tubing pressure was 1,258 psi through a 6.0 inch capacity choke that was opened to 4 3/8 inches... Giesecke & Devrient and Nokia (NOK) announced that G&D has become the sole shareholder in Venyon Oy by acquiring the shares held by Nokia. G&D held a majority of the shares before the acquisition. Since its creation in 2006, Venyon has established itself as one of the leading trusted service managers (on the mobile near field communication market... Ericsson (ERIC) is to provide Al-Madar Al-Jadid, Libya's mobile operator with a convergent charging and billing solution. Co will also supply related systems integration services... Colonial Properties Trust (CLP) announced further progress in simplifying its business and eliminating near-term debt maturity exposure through the disposition of the Company's 15% ownership interest in the 17-asset DRA/CRT office joint venture with DRA Advisors... Community Partners Bancorp (CPBC) announced that it will complete its current management succession plan, initiated in 2006. Effective January 1, 2010, William D. Moss, Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of the Company, will assume the title of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company... United Community Financial (UCFC) and United Bancshares (UBOH) announce that Home Savings has entered into an agreement to sell the Findlay, Ohio branch of Home Savings to The Union Bank Company. Union Bank will acquire the branch and will assume all of the deposit liabilities and buy the related fixed assets of the branch. In addition, Union Bank will acquire ~$2.0 million in loans associated with the branch. Union Bank anticipates retaining the majority of the Home Savings employees in Findlay... Calgon Carbon Corporation (CCC) announced that it has entered into a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation regarding the buyout of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation's 51% equity interest in Calgon Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.07:41STT State Street agrees to acquire Mourant International Finance Administration (41.30 )Co announces that it is expanding its global fund administration and alternative servicing capabilities with an agreement to acquire Mourant International Finance Administration in a cash transaction. Pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. State Street expects the transaction to be slightly accretive to 2010 earnings, excluding one-time costs. Headquartered in Jersey in the Channel Islands with approximately $170 bln in assets under administration and approximately 650 employees in locations including Dublin, Singapore and New York, M.I.F.A. is a provider of fund administration services, particularly for alternative investments, such as private equity, real estate and hedge funds.07:37COMDX Gold traded to a new all time high, in electronic trade, at $1200.50, as the dollar is weaker once again; now higher by $11.60 to $1193.9007:34CP Canadian Pacific makes voluntary prepayment to Canadian defined benefit pension plan (48.46 )Co announced plans to accelerate funding of future pension obligations through a voluntary prepayment in December of approximately $500 million to the company's Canadian defined benefit pension plan from cash on hand. Co now estimates its 2010 pension contributions to be between $150 and $200 million after application of a portion of the prepayment. This range replaces the previous estimate of $250 to $300 million provided in Management's Discussion and Analysis for Third Quarter 2009, using the same assumptions.07:33ABX Barrick Gold completes elimination of all gold hedges (42.69 )Co announces that it has completed the elimination of all of its Gold Hedges and now has full leverage to the gold price on the industry's largest gold production and reserves. "Our positive view on the gold price led us to accelerate the elimination of these contracts ahead of the schedule we had established. With their elimination we no longer have any gold price related mark-to-market exposure and will now fully benefit from increases in the gold price," said Aaron Regent, Barrick's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Barrick's gold production and reserves are now completely unhedged and our capital structure has also been simplified," added Aaron Regent.07:32CONM Conmed Healthcare Mgmt announces renewal of Pima County (Arizona) detention center contract (3.09 )Co announces that Pima County, Arizona has agreed to extend its contract with Conmed for healthcare services at the Pima County Adult Detention Center for two years, covering the period from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. This remains Conmed's largest contract to date and is expected to generate ~$19.5 million in revenues throughout the terms of the contract, or $9.7 million per year for each of the two year periods.07:32HLCS Helicos BioSciences announces publication of study describing the use of Helicos' single molecule sequencing technology (1.52 )Co announced the publication of a landmark study describing the use of Helicos' single molecule sequencing technology for the performance of genome-wide, epigenomic experiments using minute amounts of nucleic acid. The paper entitled "Chromatin Profiling by Directly Sequencing Small Quantities of Immunoprecipitated DNA" appeared in the online version of Nature Methods yesterday. The study affirms the simplicity of the methods required for single molecule sequencing and demonstrates the enabling potential of the method for characterizing the small cell numbers required for, amongst other things, studies of early stem cell differentiation.07:32HEV Ener1: EnerDel partners with Mazda, Itochu, and other leaders for pioneering Smart Grid Integration Project (5.86 )EnerDel announces that it will supply the advanced battery systems at the heart of a groundbreaking project linking up all of the essential building blocks needed to integrate the smart grid, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. It will be the first time that EVs, stationary grid storage, solar power and rapid charging infrastructure are combined in a real-world operating environment. Located outside Tokyo in Tsukuba City, Japan - a major center for scientific R&D - the project involves more than a dozen major partners from around the globe, including Mazda Motor Corporation and the Japanese industrial trading giant Itochu Corporation, and illustrates the competitive opportunities that exist for EnerDel in the global clean tech marketplace. "This is by far the most comprehensive integration of smart grid and EV technologies ever undertaken, and it represents a tremendous milestone," said Charles Gassenheimer, Chairman and CEO of EnerDel parent company Ener1. "We are very excited to be standing at the crossroads between these rapidly converging industries with high-performance battery systems that shine in both grid and automotive applications."07:31ADS Alliance Data names Charles L. Horn as Chief Financial Officer (60.99 )Co announces that Charles L. Horn has joined the co as executive vice president and chief financial officer effective December 7th. Horn previously served as chief financial officer for two large publicly traded companies, dealing extensively with both investors and Wall Street, and overseeing capital markets strategy, M&A, operations and other traditional CFO-related functions.07:30CF CF Industries extends financing for Terra Industries acquisition to Dec 31 (85.36 )Co announces that it has exercised its right to extend to December 31, 2009 the $2.5 bln of financing commitments for the acquisition of Terra Industries (TRA). CF Industries said that it does not have any right to extend the financing commitments beyond December 31 unless a merger agreement with Terra is signed by that date. "By electing our slate of directors at the annual meeting, the Terra stockholders sent a clear message that they want a sale of Terra in the near term and that the price we have offered forms the basis for final negotiations," said Stephen Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of CF Industries. "This has been confirmed to us in recent conversations with Terra stockholders. We are committed to moving forward with the acquisition of Terra."07:30ED Con Edison announces public offering of 5 mln common shares (42.91 )Co announces it has agreed to issue 5,000,000 of its common shares. Co expects to invest the net proceeds from the sale of the common shares in its regulated utility subsidiary, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, for funding of its construction expenditures and for its other general corporate purposes.07:23AIG American Intl moving forward with separation of ALICO (28.40 )Co announced that it has closed a transaction with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) positioning American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) for an initial public offering or third party sale, depending on market conditions and subject to customary regulatory approvals. In connection with the transaction, AIG has contributed the equity of ALICO to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in exchange for interests in the SPV. The FRBNY has received preferred interests in the ALICO SPV while AIG holds all of the common interests in the ALICO SPV... Co also announced that it has closed two previously announced transactions with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) that have reduced the debt AIG owes the FRBNY by $25 bln in exchange for the FRBNY's acquisition of preferred equity interests in certain newly formed subsidiaries. As of today, including the $25 bln debt reduction, AIG's outstanding principal balance under the FRBNY credit facility is ~$17 bln, down from ~$42 bln, excluding interest and fees. As a result of these transactions, the total amount available under the facility has been reduced from $60 bln to $35 bln.07:09On The WiresChina Technology Development Group (CTDC) announces that it has agreed to enter into strategic cooperation agreement with Rus Energy Investment Group to leverage mutual strengths to jointly develop the clean energy business in both China and Russia... Osteotech (OSTE) announces that Plexur M, a bone-polymer biocomposite built upon the Company's proprietary Plexur technology platform, has been approved for use by 50 U.S. hospitals to date. The Company expects to receive additional approvals as Plexur M continues to gain mindshare among surgeons....TeleCommunication Systems (TSYS) announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent number 7,624,185 entitled "System For Automated Device-To-Device Transfer System."... Rural/Metro Corporation (RURL) announces that it has authorized to amend its Shareholder Rights Plan to restore the threshold at which the plan is triggered to 15.00%... Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) announces a new portfolio investment in Drilling Info. Main Street provided Drilling Info with debt financing in connection with its acquisition of HPDI, a data service company that provides data products and web-enabled, decision-support applications to various users within the energy industry. Main Street's $4.8 mln investment in Drilling Info consists of a second lien, secured debt investment with an equity warrant participation representing an approximate 3% equity interest in the Company... InnerWorkings (INWK) announces that it has entered into an enterprise outsourcing procurement agreement with The Scotts Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG).07:04STKL SunOpta enters into strategic alliance with specialized protein products of South Africa (3.36 )Co announces that the SunOpta Grains & Foods Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SunOpta Africa, has entered into a strategic alliance with Specialized Protein Products of South Africa, to manufacture and sell liquid and powdered soy ingredients and soymilk beverages in Africa and other international markets. This exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement provides the SunOpta Grains & Foods Group with an increased supply of high quality soymilk products and improved logistics that are expected to enable it to compete effectively in world markets for natural and organic soy-based ingredients and packaged products.07:03LINE Linn Energy to acquire properties in the Permian and Anadarko Basins for $154.5 million (24.81 )Co announces that it signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire certain oil and natural gas properties in the Permian and Anadarko Basins for a contract price of $154.5 million, subject to closing conditions. The Company anticipates that the acquisition will close on or before January 29, 2010, and will be financed with borrowings under LINN Energy's existing credit facility. Significant characteristics of the assets are: Current net production of ~1,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (~73 percent liquids); -- Proved reserves of more than 12 million barrels of oil equivalent (~80 percent liquids and 80 percent proved developed); Reserve life of ~20 years; Low decline rate of approximately 6 percent; and ~100 proved low-risk infill drilling and optimization opportunities.07:02FRG Fronteer Development announces the completion of Long Canyon's first Preliminary Economic Assessment (4.21 )Co announces the completion of Long Canyon's first Preliminary Economic Assessment. The PEA is based on the project's March 2009 resource estimate and does not include the approximately 30,000 metres of subsequent drilling completed this year. Long Canyon's initial PEA illustrates that the project is viable in today's cost environment and has a solid economic foundation to build upon. The study, prepared by Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada, and reviewed by AMEC Americas Limited, is based on an Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.8 mln tonnes grading 2.4 g/t gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 8.8 mln tonnes grading 1.6 g/t gold at a cutoff grade of 0.3 g/t gold. The PEA supports a financially robust open-pit, run-of-mine, heap-leach operation. At a 5% discount rate, and US$800/oz gold price, the project's pre-tax net present value is US$145 mln with a pre-tax internal rate of return of 64% on an unleveraged 100% equity basis, and a pay-back period of 1.3 years.07:01SYMX Synthesis Energy Systems and East China Engineering Corporation to collaborate on U-GAS technology projects (0.85 )Synthesis Energy Systems and East China Engineering Science and Technology, a subsidiary of China's largest chemical engineering group - China National Chemical Engineering Corporation, announce the signing of a collaboration agreement to work together on the engineering, design, procurement and construction of SES' U-GAS gasification projects within China.07:00AHR Anthracite Capital defaults on unsecured debt payment (0.38 )Co announces that an event of default has occurred with respect to $79.25 mln aggregate principal amount of three series of senior notes. Under the indentures governing these senior notes, the failure to make an interest payment within a 30-day cure period after it is due constitutes an event of default. The senior notes the Company defaulted on are its outstanding $13.75 mln aggregate principal amount of 7.22% senior notes due 2016, $28 mln aggregate principal amount of 7.772%-to-floating rate senior notes due 2017 and $37.5 mln aggregate principal amount of 8.1275%-to-floating rate senior notes due 2017. The Company is discussing the events of default and situation with certain of its creditors, but there can be no assurance that such discussions will result in the continuing operations of the Company.06:59ENG ENGlobal initiates Chief Executive search; current CEO Coskey to remain Chairman of the Board (3.00 )Co announces its Board of Directors has initiated a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. William Coskey, P.E., co-founder and current CEO of ENGlobal, will continue as Chairman of the Board upon the appointment of his successor as CEO. Coskey, assumed the CEO role at the Board's request in April 2007. As Chairman, it is expected that Coskey will continue to actively serve the Company.06:57BA Boeing completed the static test necessary to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner (52.41 )Co completed the static test necessary to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner. The company expects a full analysis of the test results to be concluded in approximately 10 days. A successful test result is needed to clear the airplane for its planned first flight next month. During today's test on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe, the wing and trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to its limit load -- the highest loads expected to be seen in service. The load is about the same as 2.5 times the force of gravity for the wing.06:51UNFY Unify Corp announces its Board has approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 300,000 shares of its common stock (3.00 )06:51PLX Protalix BioTherapeutics and Pfizer enter into agreement to develop and commercialize Gaucher's disease treatment (9.86 )Pfizer (PFE) and Protalix (PLX) announce that they have entered into an agreement to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa, a plant-cell expressed form of glucocerebrosidase in development for the potential treatment of Gaucher's disease. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will receive exclusive worldwide licensing rights for the commercialization of taliglucerase alfa, while Protalix will retain the exclusive commercialization rights in Israel. Taliglucerase alfa is the first enzyme replacement therapy derived from a proprietary plant cell-based expression platform using genetically engineered carrot cells. With the successful completion of Phase III clinical studies, Protalix is preparing to complete a rolling New Drug Application with the U.S. FDA. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track status, facilitating the development and expediting the review of drugs to treat rare conditions or diseases, as well as an Emergency Use Authorization. The FDA has also requested, and subsequently approved, an Expanded Access Program treatment protocol. Under the agreement, Pfizer will make an upfront payment of $60 mln to Protalix. In addition, Protalix is eligible to receive additional regulatory milestone payments of up to $55 mln. Pfizer and Protalix will share future revenues and expenses for the development and commercialization of taliglucerase alfa on a 60 percent/40 percent basis respectively.06:46ACO Amcol announces the Board appointed Ryan McKendrick to the position of Chief Operating Officer of AMCOL effective January 1, 2010 (27.25 )06:31S&P futures vs fair value: +7.60. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: +15.00.06:31Asian MarketsNikkei...9572.20...+226.70...+2.40%. Hang Seng...22113.15...+291.70...+1.30%.06:31European MarketsFTSE...5268.95...+78.40...+1.50%. DAX...5726.52...+100.60...+1.80%.06:14MITI Bayer Schering exercise option to develop solid tumor BiTE antibody with Micromet (6.83 )Co announces that Bayer Schering Pharma AG has exercised its option under the option, collaboration and license agreement entered into on January 12, 2009 to develop a new BiTE antibody for the treatment of solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer Schering Pharma had an option until January 5, 2010 to license a specific BiTE antibody targeting an undisclosed target. Micromet will receive an option exercise fee of EUR mln (approx $7.5 mln) and is eligible for further milestone payments of up to EUR 285 mln (approx 426 mln) in total and up to double digit royalties on net sales of the BiTE antibody.06:12MASI Masimo receives FDA clearance for Masimo Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring (26.36 )06:10SPLS Staples beats by $0.01, beats on revs; guides Q4 EPS in-line (23.32 )Reports Q3 (Oct) earnings of $0.39 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $0.38; revenues fell 6.2% year/year to $6.52 bln vs the $6.45 bln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $0.36-0.38, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.37 consensus. Co expects Q4 sales to increase 1.0-3.0% from 4Q08 levels. Co reaffirms its expectations for synergies related to Corporate Express acquisition.03:51MDCO The Medicines Co receives European approval for Angiox for use in heart attack patients undergoing emergency heart procedures (7.84 )Co announces it has received European approval for the use of Angiox as an anticoagulant in patients with heart attacks undergoing emergency heart procedures called primary percutaneous coronary intervention.02:02AEG AEGON repays one third of the EUR 3 bln in core capital the co secured last year through its largest shareholder (7.24 )01:44EXFO EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering announces preliminary results for 1Q10 (3.68 )Co issues guidance for Q1 (Nov), sees GAAP EPS of $0.00-0.01 (previous range ($0.06)-(0.02)) vs. $0.00 First Call consensus; sees Q1 (Nov) revs of $45.0-46.0 mln (previous range $40.0-45.0 mln) vs. $42.99 mln consensus. New EPS guidance range is due to stronger-than-anticipated US dollar vs Canadian dollar and higher sales volume.01:36AGO Assured Guaranty announces 23.924 mln common share offering (22.68 )01:36HBI Hanesbrands announces $500 mln senior notes offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement (24.01 )Co also intends to amend and restate its existing senior secured credit facility to provide for a proposed $1.15 bln in new senior secured credit facilities.01:32DDRX Peet's Coffee & Tea enhances proposal to acquire Diedrich Coffee (32.56 )Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET) announces that it reinstated and enhanced its previously expired proposal to acquire Diedrich Coffee (DDRX) for stock and cash valued at $32.50 based on Peet's current stock price. Under its enhanced proposal, the stock component remains at 0.321 of a share of Peet's common stock, and the cash component will be an amount between $21.26 and $22.87 such that the value of the total consideration paid per Diedrich share equals $32.50 for all Peet's common stock prices between $30.00 and $35.00. If Peet's volume-weighted average stock price over a designated period prior to the completion of the exchange offer is $35.00 or higher, the value of the offer would increase above $32.50 per share, and if Peet's average stock price over that period is $30.00 or lower, the value of the offer would decrease below $32.50. Peet's stock closed today at $32.56 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Assuming Peet's enhanced proposal is accepted, Peet's expects the acquisition to be dilutive to earnings in FY10 and accretive thereafter. Peet's expects fully-diluted EPS to be in the range of $0.70 to $0.80 in 2010 and $2.00 to $2.10 in 2011.01:27ZOLT Zoltek misses by $0.10, beats on revs (8.98 )Reports Q4 (Sep) loss of $0.11 per share, $0.10 worse than the First Call consensus of ($0.01); revenues fell 33.7% year/year to $33.8 mln vs the $29.1 mln consensus.18:59RCI Rogers agrees to purchase 1,350,000 Class B non-voting shares for cancellation in private purchase (30.26 +0.06)18:35MCHP Microchip raises Q3 guidance (26.24 +0.19)Co announced that based on solid bookings and sales activities in October and November that it's raising Q3 guidance to be up 6-8% sequentially, which equates to ~$240.3-244.8 mln vs. $241.0 mln First Call consensus, up from prior guidance of up 4-8%, which equates to ~$235.7-244.8 mln. Separately, the co raised Q3 EPS guidance to $0.29 vs. $0.29 consensus, up from prior guidance of $0.27-0.29... Co said, "The first two months of our December quarter have progressed nicely and we are narrowing our net sales guidance to the upper half of our previous expectations. We currently expect gross margins to come in at the high side of our previous guidance and operating expenses to be at the low end of our previous guidance. We continue to see excellent design win traction in our strategic product lines and believe we are positioned well for future market share gains."18:08TTI TETRA Tech files a mixed securities shelf offering (10.36 +0.50)18:01MMM 3M and ANEST IWATA form strategic alliance (77.44 +0.69)Co announced the two companies have entered into a strategic marketing agreement, effective immediately. Under the agreement, ANEST IWATA will incorporate the 3M Paint Preparation System (PPS) into an introductory kit with their paint guns, including the new SUPERNOVA WS-400 / LS-400 spray guns.18:01HLX Helix ESG announces Gulf of Mexico discoveries (11.76 +0.23)Co announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Energy Resource Technology GOM (ERT), has made a Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil and gas discovery at its Jake prospect, located in Green Canyon Block 490. The discovery well was drilled to 13,504 feet in 3,740 feet of water and encountered 134 feet of net oil and gas pay in a single sand interval. The well was conventionally wireline logged with multiple fluid samples recovered for confirmation of the hydrocarbon bearing zone. The well has been cased and temporarily abandoned for a future subsea completion. Following the discovery, HLX's estimate for this prospect is 50 to 75 Bcfe gross (100%), on a proved, probable, possible basis.17:33GPRE Green Plains Renewable Energy announces appointment of Chief Operating Officer (11.61 -0.34)Co announced the appointment of Jeffrey S. Briggs as Chief Operating Officer effective November 23, 2009. Briggs will be responsible for all operations across the co, including Agribusiness and Ethanol Production.17:33AEM Agnico-Eagle provides exploration update; Significant new intersections at Kittila; Postive developments for Sinter and Cubiro zones at Pinos Altos (62.66 +0.24)Co provide an update on its exploration program since its last exploration results news release on September 08, 2009. The co's exploration programs in 2009 continue to increase the known size of the mineralized envelopes of several deposits, over and above the amount mined during the year. This $54 mln exploration program was expected to result in ~221 kilometres of drilling using more than 35 rigs. However, due to exploration success, the budget was increased approximately 10% and approximately 265 kilometres of exploration drilling has been completed through October 2009.17:27IP International Paper announced that it has priced $750 mln of 7.30% senior unsecured notes due 2039. The public offering price of the notes is 99.741% (25.45 +0.60)17:09ES EnergySolutions announced that Philip O. Strawbridge, its Chief Financial Officer, is resigning from the co effective December 31, 2009 to pursue personal business interests (8.58 -0.07)17:02FLL Full House Resorts announced that it has paid off the remaining $775,000 balance on its Nevada State Bank revolving loan (3.45 +0.05)17:01EC Ecopetrol S.A Confirms CB&I as leading contractor for Cartagena refinery expansion project (24.81 -0.52)Co attaches hereto an announcement made by its subsidiary, Refineria de Cartagena S.A., on November 25, 2009 regarding the appointment of Chicago, Bridge & Iron as the leading contractor for the expansion of the Cartagena Refinery.17:00URI United Rentals wins state purchasing contracts in Massachusetts and Texas (9.22 +0.03)Co announced that its Government Solutions business has been awarded state purchasing contracts in Texas and Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, URI has won a sole-source equipment rental contract through 2012, with an optional extension. The contract is available for use by all executive agencies in the Commonwealth. In Texas, United Rentals has won a shared contract for equipment rentals provided through 2012 and administered via the state's Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), a nationwide purchasing cooperative available to all units of local government and non-profits.16:56TG Tredegar: John D. Gottwald retiring as Tredegar President and CEO, Nancy M. Taylor appointed as successor (14.41 +0.28)Co announced that John D. Gottwald plans to retire as Tredegar's president and chief executive officer. Mr. Gottwald joined Tredegar in 1989 and served as president and chief executive officer from 1989 to 2001 and from 2006 to the present. He will continue to serve as a member of Tredegar's board of directors and its executive committee.16:55OVTI OmniVision beats by $0.11, beats on revs; guides Q3 EPS in-line, revs below consensus (13.96 +0.55)Reports Q2 (Oct) earnings of $0.27 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.11 better than the First Call consensus of $0.16; revenues rose 11.8% year/year to $183.3 mln vs the $163.9 mln consensus. Co issues mixed guidance for Q3, sees EPS of $0.14-0.24, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.20 consensus; sees Q3 revs of $145-160 mln vs. $168.56 mln consensus.16:46BRCM Broadcom to acquire Dune Networks; BRCM expects the acquisition of Dune Networks will be neutral to slightly accretive to earnings per share in 2010 (29.20 +0.23)16:35DRYS DryShips announced that its previously announced agreement to acquire 2 Panamax vessels has been terminated (6.12 -0.07)16:31USMO USA Mobility extends share repurchase program (9.98 -0.24)USMO announced its Board of Directors has approved an extension of the Company's previously announced share repurchase program from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010. The Company commenced the share repurchase plan in August 2008 to buy back up to $50 million of USA Mobility common stock over a 12-month period. The Board approved a supplement to the plan in March 2009, resetting the amount available for purchase to $25 mln as of January 1 and extending the purchase period through year-end 2009.16:30SCG SCE&G announced that on December 30, 2009, it will redeem for cash all outstanding shares of its cumulative preferred stock representing an aggregate par value of $113.4 mln (35.20 +0.26)16:26AJG Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announces $150 mln private placement debt transaction (22.40 +0.17)AJG announced that the co has completed a private placement of $150 million of senior unsecured notes. The notes bear interest at 5.85% and are due in three equal installments in 2016, 2018 and 2019. The co intends to use the net proceeds of the debt transaction to pay down the outstanding balance under its existing line of credit.16:18IPAS iPass announces three new board committee chairmen (1.17 -0.01)Co announced that its board of directors has appointed three new chairmen to lead its corporate governance & nominating committee, compensation committee and audit committee. The appointments take effect January 1, 2010. Peter Clapman has been appointed as the chairman of the corporate governance and nominating committee of the iPass board of directors. Gary Griffiths has been appointed as the chairman of the compensation committee of the iPass board of directors. Robert Majteles has been appointed as the chairman of the audit committee of the iPass board of directors.16:18BONDX Ticking Back +03/32 3.194%...euro 1.5008...yen 86.3850Treasuries got back into the game with the mid-curve leading as the market was able to pull back into positive territory across 2-30-yrs in mixed but fairly quiet trade. Flows were obviously a touch better than last week, but things remain cautious. The market has been regaining some safety buying even as Dubai issues are being called "contained" and month end activity helped bring prices back. The market was working the curve steeper through most of the session but headed back to flatter as players unwound. The market will likely see ongoing deterioration in the size in the market as December gets going, which should add to widened swings, but the market may practice some caution out to the Friday payrolls report with the actual unemployment rate continuing to gain added currency. The curve has seen the 2-10-yr yield spread is 252.7 while the 3-mo-10-yr was back to near Friday's flattest. The VIX has also been working back toward Friday's heated levels but was unable to hold through 25. The dollar was after making a play for 75, with the euro managing to pull back through 1.50 and the yen was put on offer as positions were cleaned up. There a will be a smaller $31B in 4-wks will be offered along with the construction spending, the ISM and pending home sales hit (10), with the vehicle sales hitting through the session16:16NYT New York Times: Machinists Union ratifies Boston Globe contract (8.44 -0.32)The International Association of Machinists, Lodge 264, voted to ratify a new three-year labor contract with The Boston Globe on Monday, November 23, by a vote of 10 in favor to 3 against. The new labor agreement covers the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. The vote reverses an earlier vote turn down last June of a similar agreement. The new contract is expected to provide savings of $350,000 per year.16:15ICFI ICF International announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of 3.1 mln of its shares of common stock (27.00 +0.31)The co intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for future growth, including possible acquisitions. The co will do this by applying the net proceeds it receives to repayment of outstanding borrowings incurred under its revolving credit facility. Such debt repayment will provide the co with debt capacity for growth initiatives.16:11VNR Vanguard Natural Resources announces public offering of 2.25 mln common units (18.82 +0.87) -Update-16:08AMSF Amerisafe announces redemption of all outstanding convertible preferred stock (16.89 -0.31)Co announced that it will redeem all 250,000 outstanding shares of Series C and Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, effective December 31, 2009. The redemption price is $103.50 per preferred share, or a total of $25,875,000. The Company will use available cash to fund the redemption.16:07EFII Elec For Imaging: German Court declares EFII victorious in patent litigation against Durst (12.01 +0.32) -Update-Co announced victory in its German patent litigation with Durst Fototechnik Digital Technology GmbH involving EFI's VUTEk QS series printers with white ink technology. Durst brought the lawsuit in the Mannheim Regional Court on February 27, 2007, accusing EFI's VUTEk QS series printers of infringing Durst's utility model DE 20 2005 012 179 U1. From the outset, EFI has maintained that it employed the technology in its QS printers well before Durst obtained its utility model. Under German law, a utility model is an intellectual property right to protect inventions, very similar to a U.S. patent.16:07SYNO Synovis Life Tech announces publication of Veritas article in The American Journal of Surgery (12.16 +0.08)Co announced that The American Journal of Surgery has published an article on the performance of Synovis' Veritas Collagen Matrix for the repair of complex ventral hernias. The retrospective Veritas study reviewed outcomes of 26 patients with 30 primary or recurrent ventral hernias. All patients had either an infected wound or failure of a synthetic mesh material implant. Ventral hernia repair with synthetic mesh has recurrence rates up to 54 percent, and this material cannot be used when an infection is present. At 22 months, the recurrence rate among patients treated with Veritas was 19 percent. The majority of patients had their hernia defect bridged with Veritas. The literature documents an 80 percent failure rate for the bridging procedure when the human skin product of a major competitor is used.16:06HDY Hyperdynamics signs agreement for exclusive dealing and letter of intent with Repsol for interest in offshore Guinea Oil and Gas concession (1.15 +0.10)Co announces it has signed an agreement for exclusive dealing and letter of intent (LOI) with Spanish-based Repsol YPF, S.A. (REP) under which the two cos will negotiate the assignment to Repsol of a 37% interest in Hyperdynamics' oil and gas concession offshore the Republic of Guinea. The LOI gives Repsol exclusive negotiating rights to take a 37% share in Hyperdynamics' concession for $31.5 mln. Repsol also would be the operator of the Guinea project, subject to govt and third-party approvals and consents as required. Under the terms of the LOI, the two companies will work to sign definitive documents no later than January 31, 2010. The LOI otherwise terminates unless further extended by both parties.16:05SCLN SciClone Pharma announces commencement and complete enrollment of clinical study examining ZADAXIN's ability to enhance the H1N1 vaccine (2.14 -0.22)SciClone Pharmaceuticals (SCLN) announced that Rome-based development partner Sigma-Tau, S.p.A., has initiated a pilot study in Italy to evaluate ZADAXIN's (thymalfasin) ability to enhance immune response to the MF59 adjuvanted H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine, Focetria from Novartis. The study, being conducted in hemodialysis patients, is now completely enrolled, having reached full enrollment after two days. Top-line clinical results are expected by late 2009 or early 2010.16:05FST Forest Oil announces agreement to sell remaining Permian Basin assets for ~ $800 mln and updates Canadian divestitures (18.32 -0.18)Co announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell to SandRidge Exploration and Production, a wholly owned subsidiary of SandRidge Energy (SD), the remainder of its Permian Basin properties in West Texas and New Mexico for ~$800 million. The transaction is expected to close on or before December 31, 2009, with an effective date of November 1, 2009, and is subject to customary closing conditions and post-closing purchase price adjustments. In addition to the Permian Basin transaction, Forest entered into a definitive agreement in November 2009 to sell additional non-core, primarily non-operated assets, in the Deep Basin in Alberta, Canada for ~ $38 mln. This transaction, which is expected to close in December 2009, will bring Forest's non-core Canadian property divestitures in 2009 to ~ $100 mln for assets that produced 11 MMcfe/d and had 65 Bcfe of estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2008. After the close of this divestiture, Forest will have accomplished approximately 50% of its non-core Canadian divestiture goal. During 2009, Forest expects to have closed on the sale of 68 MMcfe/d of production and 456 Bcfe of estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2008 for proceeds in excess of $1.0 bln. Forest intends to complete the sale of the remainder of its non-core Canadian properties in early 2010 to streamline its portfolio and prepare for more active development of its core assets in 2010 and 2011.16:05SD SandRidge Energy to acquire Permian Basin properties for $800 mln; to offer 22 mln in common stock; to sell 2 mln shares of preferred stock for $200 mln (9.38 -0.17)announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin from Forest Oil Corporation and one of its subsidiaries for $800 mln, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments. Approximately $720 mln of the purchase price is attributable to the reserves and $80 mln to undeveloped acreage, equipment and other assets. The company anticipates closing on or before December 31, 2009, and the acquisition will be financed with borrowings under the company's existing credit facility, $200 mln of proceeds from the placement of new shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock, and the proceeds of a planned public offering of the company's common stock. The company has entered into an agreement to issue and sell 2,000,000 shares of its 6.0% convertible perpetual preferred stock to an institutional investor for an aggregate purchase price of $200 mln. The issuance and sale of the convertible preferred stock is expected to close at the same time as the Forest Acquisition. The company also announced today a registered underwritten public offering of 22,000,000 shares of its common stock. In addition, Tom L. Ward, the company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, is offering 2,000,000 shares of common stock. The company also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 3,300,000 additional shares of common stock. Net proceeds to the company from the offering will be used to fund the purchase price for the Forest Acquisition, but if the Forest Acquisition is not consummated, the net proceeds are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including exploration, development and other capital expenditures. The company will not receive any of the proceeds from the shares of its common stock sold by Mr. Ward.16:04GES Guess beats by $0.18, beats on revs; guides Q4 EPS above consensus, revs above consensus (36.93 -0.54)Reports Q3 (Oct) earnings of $0.69 per share, $0.18 better than the First Call consensus of $0.51; revenues fell 1.0% year/year to $522.8 mln vs the $482.6 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $0.77-0.80 vs. $0.69 consensus; sees Q4 revs of $585-605 mln vs. $563.79 mln consensus. Co says, "Our brand enjoys significant momentum worldwide and our management team continues to execute well. We are gaining share in key markets, generating strong cash flows and delivering solid returns. As we look into the future, we will continue to fund key growth initiatives and invest in our infrastructure. International expansion remains a high priority for us and we plan to resume retail development in North America and expand our retail presence in other countries as well."16:03STBC State Bancorp announces agreement for exchange of outstanding $10 million debt for new equity and a major disposition strategy for low quality commercial loans (7.39 +0.52)Co announces two separate strategic actions that are each designed to aggressively position the Company for 2010 and beyond. In the first initiative, co reported that it will retire its outstanding 8.25% subordinated notes with an aggregate principal balance of $10 million issued in 2006 and due to mature in 2013. In exchange for the subordinated debt and accrued interest, co will issue 1,656,600 shares of its common stock in a privately negotiated transaction with four major institutional investors at an effective price of $6.50 per share. The net effects of this exchange will be an increase in the Company's tangible common equity of $11 million and an $825,000 annual reduction in ongoing interest expense related to the retired subordinated notes.16:01HGSI Human Genome announces proposed public offering of common stock (27.82 +0.71) -Update-Co announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of up to 12,500,000 shares of its common stock. Co currently expects to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including acquisition of additional manufacturing capacity and development of new indications for BENLYSTA(TM), as well as potential sales and marketing activities, clinical trial, research and development, general and administrative and manufacturing expenses and the potential retirement of debt.16:01JDAS JDA Software announces private offering of $275 mln of senior notes (23.48 -0.06)Co announced that it intends to commence an offering, subject to market and other conditions, of $275 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes in a private offering. JDA intends to use the proceeds of the offering, along with its existing cash and cash on hand at i2 Technologies, Inc. (ITWO), to pay the cash portion of the consideration payable to i2's common and preferred shareholders in connection with the previously announced acquisition of i2 by JDA, as well as the estimated fees and other transactions costs of the acquisition and offering. The notes will be guaranteed by JDA's existing and future domestic subsidiaries, including, following the closing of the acquisition, i2 and its domestic subsidiaries, other than certain immaterial subsidiaries.16:01NM Navios Maritime announces delivery of capesize new building vessel (5.73 +0.09)Co announced that a South Korean shipyard delivered to Navios Holdings the newly built Navios Aurora II, a Capesize vessel of 169,031 dwt. As previously announced the vessel is chartered-out for ten years at a net charter-out rate of $41,325 per day.16:00WGOV Woodward Governor signs agreement with REpower for delivery of wind power converters (23.26 -0.06)Co announces that it has signed a contract with REpower Systems AG to supply wind turbine power converters for five projects in the Canadian province of Quebec under the Hydro-Quebec Distribution wind power project. REpower will deliver wind turbines that provide up to 954 MW of power. The agreement between REpower and Woodward includes up to 477 wind power converters to be delivered between 2011 and 2015.Briefing.com is the leading Internet provider of live market analysis for U.S. Stock, U.S. Bond and world FX market participants. 1-800-752-3013 or http://www.briefing.com