Briefing.com: Hourly In Play (R) – 18:00 ET

XOMA XOMA Limited reports Q4 results (0.56 +0.01)

XOMA Limited reports Q4 earnings of $0.01 vs ($0.03) First Call consensus; revs fell over 41% year/year $21.6 mln vs $15.16 mln First Call consensus. The company will not be providing guidance on revenues or cash receipts for 2010 so as to best manage its ongoing negotiations for XOMA 052 and technology licensing and in light of general economic and market conditions. The company expects that cash used in operating activities may range from $45 mln to cash neutral or positive.

16:17

CIT CIT Group closes $667 mln TALF-Eligible equipment lease securitization (37.03 +0.44)

Co announces it closed a $667 million equipment lease securitization. The Class A Notes issued constitute eligible collateral under the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility. CIT sold six classes of fixed rate notes in a private offering backed by a pool of equipment leases originated by CIT Vendor Finance. The weighted average fixed coupon is 3.31%, which represents a weighted average credit spread of 2.20% over benchmark swap rates for the six classes of notes. The securitization had a net advance rate of 89.5%. All but $50 million of the offering was sold to investors that did not use financing under the TALF program.

16:16

CMO Capstead Mortgage declares quarterly dividend of $0.50 vs. $0.54 previously (12.92 +0.07)

16:16

WPI Watson Pharm announces FDA approval of TRELSTAR 22.5 mg, a new twice-yearly formulation of TRELSTAR (40.98 +0.40)

16:15

DHT Double Hull Tankers names Board member Randee Day acting Chief Executive Officer (4.09 -0.01)

The co announces that Board member Randee Day has been named acting Chief Executive Officer of DHT Holdings, Inc. and DHT Maritime, Inc., effective April 1, 2010. Ms. Day will remain on the Board of Directors of both companies, but will not continue on the Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committees. Ms. Day succeeds Ole Jacob Diesen, who will step down as Chief Executive Officer on March 31, 2010... This transition follows a comprehensive review of DHT's strategy by the Board and management beginning in 2009. The Board and Mr. Diesen concluded it would be in DHT's best interests to turn to new leadership as the Company pursues a more growth-oriented strategy going forward. Mr. Diesen will continue to work with DHT as a consultant for the next six months. The DHT Board of Directors will conduct a search over the next few months for a permanent CEO and will evaluate both internal and external candidates. Ms. Day has indicated she would be a candidate for this position.

16:15

OPTR Optimer Pharma beats by $0.06 (13.57 -0.08)

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.28 per share, $0.06 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.34). "Recently, we announced robust results from our second Phase 3 trial of fidaxomicin confirming the positive results of our first Phase 3 trial showing that fidaxomicin has the potential to be a first-in-class drug for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. 2010 will be a significant year for Optimer, as we focus on completing fidaxomicin and Pruvel regulatory filings, publish existing data and continue to prepare for the commercialization of these product candidates." Optimer expects to use cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $50 million for its operating activities in 2010, based on its current operating plans.

16:13

ARO Aeropostale beats by $0.04, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 EPS above consensus; guides FY11 EPS above consensus (27.10 +0.68)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.99 per share, $0.04 better than the First Call consensus of $0.95; revenues rose 16.1% year/year to $801.2 mln vs the $797.7 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.39-0.40 vs. $0.37 consensus. Co issues upside guidance for FY11, sees EPS growth of ~15%, which equates to ~$2.61 vs. $2.48 consensus.

16:12

LDK LDK Solar sees FY10 revs $1.35-1.45 bln vs $1.37 bln First Call consensus; sees Q4 revs of $300-310 mln vs $301.11 mln First Call consensus, Q4 rev guidance was $280-310 mln previously (6.95 -0.02) -Update-

For the fourth quarter of 2009, LDK Solar revised its expected ranges for revenue, wafer shipments and module shipments. LDK Solar currently expects revenue in the range of $300 to $310 million ($301.1 mln First Call Consensus) and wafer shipments between 330 and 340 MW and module shipments between 20 and 25 MW. The company previously forecasted revenue in the range of $280 to $310 million and wafer shipments between 320 and 340 MW and module shipments between 20 and 30 MW. Additionally, LDK Solar provided guidance for fiscal year 2010. Based upon preliminary data and current expectations, the company's outlook for the fiscal year 2010 is as follows: Revenue to be in the range of $1.35 billion to $1.45 billion ($1.37 bln First Call Consensus); Wafer shipments in the range of 1.3 GW to 1.4 GW; Module shipments between 300 MW to 400 MW; Gross margin between 15% and 20%; and Production of between 4,500 and 5,500 MT of polysilicon in 2010.

16:12

WNC Wabash Natl announced that they have hired 100 temporary associates with plans to hire 90 more during the quarter (5.41 -0.08)

16:08

CSCX Cardiac Science Corp reports Q4 results; issues downside revenue guidance for 1Q10 and FY10 (2.15 -0.04)

Cardiac Science Corp report Q4 earnings of ($0.33) vs ($0.19) First Call consensus; revs fell 17% year/year to $42.2 mln vs $39.43 mln First Call consensus. Co issues downside revenue guidance for 1Q10; sees revenues in a range between $32 and $35 mln vs First Call consensus of $38.10 mln. As previously announced, first quarter revenues have been adversely impacted by recently announced voluntary corrective actions relating to the Company's AED products. Based on this range of revenue, the Company expects to incur a net loss for the first quarter in a range between $8.0 and $9.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2010 is expected to be in a range between negative $5.5 and negative $6.5 million. Co also issues downside revenue guidance for FY10; sees revenues in a range between $150 and $170 mln vs First Call consensus of $171.40 mln.

16:08

AIRM Air Methods misses by $0.05, misses on revs (27.84 +0.14)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.22 per share, includes items, $0.05 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.27; revenues rose 1.1% year/year to $120.2 mln vs the $121.6 mln consensus. As previously announced, current-year Q4 results were negatively impacted by higher weather cancellations of patient transports associated with very severe weather experienced throughout the country. Co said, "The strong growth in net earnings achieved in 2009 reflects benefits from continued fleet rejuvenation and conversions from twin-engine to single-engine aircraft. In addition, decreased fuel prices, combined with improved net reimbursement per community-based transport, also contributed to overall earnings growth. While this winter has been very severe to-date, we would anticipate a recovery in flight volume as weather returns to more moderate levels."

16:08

SHFL Shuffle Master misses by $0.01, misses on revs (8.93 +0.32)

Reports Q1 (Jan) earnings of $0.07 per share, $0.01 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.08; revenues rose 16.8% year/year to $40.3 mln vs the $43.4 mln consensus. "Our results this quarter reflect solid year-over-year growth in ETS leases, continued momentum of our progressive upgrade strategy, and real progress in our Ace to i-Deal shuffler conversion process... This, and the continued strong acceptance of our varied and improved product offerings in existing and new markets, are exciting as we enter the new year."

16:08

LTRE Learning Tree awarded FAC-P/PM training contract worth up to $60 mln by Department of Veterans Affairs (13.55 +0.44)

Co announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Learning Tree an IDIQ contract for delivering FAC-P/PM training to VA employees nationwide. FAC-P/PM (Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers) is a government-specific project and program management discipline that has been mandated throughout the U.S. Government by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. The contract includes a base year and four option years, with a total value of up to $60 million. Learning Tree estimates revenues of between $10 and $15 million for the contract's base year. Training under this contract began February 22, 2010.

16:07

SWHC Smith & Wesson beats by $0.01, misses on revs; guides Q4 revs below consensus (4.73 +0.01)

Reports Q3 (Jan) earnings of $0.02 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $0.01; revenues rose 6.8% year/year to $89.4 mln vs the $92.6 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for Q4 (Apr), sees Q4 revs of $97-101 mln vs. $103.7 mln consensus.

16:07

RSYS RadiSys announces acquisition of privately held Pactolus Communications Software (8.83 0.00)

16:05

NXTM Nxstage Medical secures $15 mln revolving line of credit (10.50 +0.16)

16:04

ULTA Ulta Salon beats by $0.04, beats on revs; guides Q1 EPS above consensus, revs above consensus (21.54 +0.07)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.34 per share, $0.04 better than the First Call consensus of $0.30; revenues rose 16.1% year/year to $396.4 mln vs the $390 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.14-0.16 vs. $0.12 consensus; sees Q1 revs of $301-307 mln vs. $298.65 mln consensus.

16:04

ZQK Quiksilver beats by $0.11, beats on revs (3.11 -0.27)

Reports Q1 (Jan) loss of $0.02 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.11 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.13); revenues fell 2.4% year/year to $432.7 mln vs the $412.8 mln consensus. The Company had approximately $148 million of availability under its credit lines in addition to approximately $150 million of unrestricted cash at the end of the first quarter

16:04

NSM National Semi beats by $0.04, beats on revs; guides Q4 revs above consensus (14.34 -0.49)

Reports Q3 (Feb) earnings of $0.22 per share, $0.04 better than the First Call consensus of $0.18; revenues rose 23.8% year/year to $362 mln vs the $348.6 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q4, sees Q4 revs of $375-390 mln vs. $360.89 mln consensus. Co reports Q3 gross margins of 67.3% vs 65.5% Street est. National's total company bookings increased 5 percent sequentially, as order rates increased from direct OEM customers as well as from distributors. Bookings exceeded billings in the quarter. Stronger product mix from higher sales into industrial markets drove gross margin improvement in the quarter. In addition, the company continued to improve its manufacturing cost performance.

16:02

NAVI NaviSite reports net loss per share of ($0.08) vs. ($0.08) First Call consensus; revenue decreased 1% y/y to $37.7 mln vs. $37.3 mln consensus (2.99 +0.00)

16:02

ZUMZ Zumiez beats by $0.02, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 EPS below consensus (20.25 +0.18)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.29 per share, $0.02 better than the First Call consensus of $0.27; revenues rose 5.5% year/year to $132.4 mln vs the $131.3 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for Q1, sees EPS of ($0.11)-($0.09) vs. ($0.01) consensus. This guidance is based on an anticipated comparable store sales increase in the mid to upper single digit range for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

16:02

PTP Platinum Underwriters announces preliminary loss estimate from first quarter 2010 catastrophe events (35.59 -1.29)

Co announced its initial loss estimate from first quarter 2010 catastrophe events that have occurred to date of approximately $85 mln, net of reinstatement premiums, tax benefits, and retrocessional coverage.

16:01

CODI Compass Group subsidiary, Advanced Circuits, acquires Circuit Express (14.21 +0.16)

The co announces that its subsidiary, Advanced Circuits, has acquired Circuit Express (CEI) for a purchase price of $15.6 million. Based in Tempe, Arizona and founded in 1987, CEI focuses on quick-turn manufacturing of prototype and low-volume quantities of rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs), primarily for aerospace and defense related customers. While its standard production lead time is five days, CEI specializes in expedited delivery in as fast as 24 hours. The company's three facilities total 35,000 square feet, and are designed for the sole purpose of producing PCBs. For the year ended December 31, 2009, CEI reported revenue of approximately $16.4 million. The purchase price was funded largely in cash from CODI's balance sheet... expect this acquisition to be highly accretive to cash flows.

15:58

SPY S&P extends its last hour upward momentum into the close, nearing the January high of 1150.45 (115.46 +0.49) -Update- -Technical-

15:56

Conferences and Shareholder/Analyst Meetings of Interest

Events of interest for tomorrow, March 12, include: INT Analyst Day; UTX Analyst Meeting; PETD Analyst Day; BTE at FirstEnergy and Societe Generale Canadian Energy Conference; EVBN, HSKA at Wall Street Analyst Forum Institutional Investor Conference. ECB: ECB's Trichet.

15:55

KBE Late day global & sector ETF view -Technical-

Actively Traded Leading Global & Sector ETF Plays:

Commercial banks- KBE +1.50%, iShares Healthcare- IHF +1.50%, Regional banks- KRE +1.25%, RKH +1.0%, Clean energy- PBW +1.0%, iShares Japan- EWJ +1.0%, Wind energy- FAN +1.0%, Silver- SLV +1.0%, SPDRS biotech- XBI +0.75%, Financials- XLF +0.75%, IYF +0.75%, Gold miners- GDX +0.75%, iShares REITS- ICF +0.75%, iShares transports- IYT +0.75%, SPDRS cons disct- XLY +0.75%

Actively Traded Lagging Global & Sector ETF Plays:

Nat gas- UNG -3.0%, Semis- SMH -1.0%, IGW -0.75%, iShares S Korea- EWY -0.75%, Ag/chem- MOO -0.50%, Steel- SLX -0.50%, iShares Australia- EWA -0.25%, China 25- FXI -0.25%, Commods- GSG -0.25%, DBC -0.25%

15:47

Earnings Calendar

Today after the close look for the following companies to report: ARO, AIRM, CCO, GMXR, GOL, GG, KOG, NSM, NPSP, OMPI, OPTR, PSUN, PLL, POWR, ZQK, SEAC, SHFL, SKIL, SWHC, ULTA, and ZUMZ. Tomorrow before the open look for the following companies to report: ANN, ARNA, ATPG, CTRN, HIBB, KIRK, NGPC, NVAX, PEI, and HOGS.

15:46

SPY Trading volume analysis with charts-- With under 30 min. remaining, NYSE & NASDAQ total volume pacing well below yesterday's tally -Technical-

Both exchanges, most notably NYSE, are showing very light trading volumes in comparison to yesterday even as the indices surge to session highs in late trading.

Only the NASDAQ COMPQ & the NDX 100 have actually registered new YTD/52 week highs on this recent last hour push with lighter volume totals suggesting funds & institutions are on the sidelines today.

As of 3:30p.m. ET, nearly 698M shares have changed hands on NYSE vs. 878M yesterday, a nearly 21% decline. Over on NASDAQ, 1.78B shares have traded vs. 2.1B yesterday at this time, showing a nearly 18.5% decline.

NYSE 60 min volume chart

NASDAQ 60 min volume chart

15:18

SPY S&P jumps higher from its midday consolidation to challenge Wednesday's high of 1148.26 (115.24 +0.27) -Update- -Technical-

Next area of interest above that lies at the January high near 1150.45.

15:10

TECHX All indices push to fresh afternoon & session highs here with only the NASDAQ COMPQ registering new YTD/52 week highs -Technical-

INDU +17

SPX +1.30

NDX +1.65

COMPQ +3.50

RUT +.50

15:09

ABT Abbott Labs seeks FDA approval of a new six-month 45-mg formulation of Lupron Depot (55.39 +0.36)

Co announces the FDA has accepted for review the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) of a new six-month 45-mg formulation of Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) for use in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

15:01

COMDX CBOT Agriculture and Ethanol and ICE Exchange Sugar Closing Prices

May corn closed lower by 0.25 cents to $3.6525 per bushel, May soybeans closed lower by 27.5 cents at $9.305 per bushel, May wheat closed lower by 2.75 cents to $4.815 per bushel, May ethanol closed lower by $0.010 cents at $1.618, May world sugar futures closed 0.42 cents lower to 19.27 cents.

14:59

CHD Church & Dwight sells Brillo to sponge maker Armaly Brands, terms were not disclosed (67.50 -0.02)

14:59

REV Revlon announces completion of credit agreement refinancing (15.84 -0.12)

Co consummated the previously-disclosed refinancing of its existing bank credit facilities. The refinancing extends the maturity of existing credit facilities, which were scheduled to mature in January 2012.

14:56

HOLX NASDAQ 100 (NDX) leaders & laggards appraoching today's final hour of trading -Technical-

NDX 100 Best % Performers:

HOLX +9.5%, ATVI +2.50%, FSLR +2.0%, AMZN +1.50%, ILMN +1.50%, VOD +1.50%, RIMM +1.25%, CTXS +1.0%, TEVA +1.0%, SPLS +1.0%, ROST +1.0%

NDX 100 Worst % Performers:

SHLD -2.50%, NVDA -2.50%, YHOO -2.25%, WCRX -2.25%, LRCX -2.25%, XLNX -1.75%, LINTA -1.75%, LLTC -1.50%, CELG -1.50%, DELL -1.50%, MXIM -1.50%, BBBY -1.50%

NASDAQ TRIN @ +1.0

NASDAQ A/D -445

14:53

IBM Dow 30 (INDU) leaders & laggards approaching today's final hour of trading -Technical-

INDU 30 Best % Performers:

IBM +1.25%, TRV +1.0%, MRK +1.0%, DIS +0.75%, HD +0.75%, WMT +0.50%, MSFT +0.50%

INDU 30 Worst % Performers:

MMM -1.0%, GE -0.75%, JNJ -0.50%, KO -0.50%, BA -0.50%, KFT -0.50%, INTC -0.50%

NYSE TTRIN @ +0.75

NYSE A/D @ -185

14:42

COMDX NYMEX Energy Closing Prices

Crude oil settled higher by 2 cents to $82.11, natural gas shed 11.4 cents to end at $4.445, heating oil closed up 0.13 cents to $2.1175 and RBOB gasoline finished off 1.26 cents to $2.2725 (all April contracts).

14:42

MKC McCormick recall due to possible health risk from HVP ingredient expands to include additional "best by" dates (38.20 +0.10)

Co is expanding a March 5, 2010 recall to include additional "Best By" dates of products manufactured with HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) supplied by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas, Nevada, because the ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

14:11

AIG American Intl shares turn negative in recent afternoon trade, moving back lower after reaching four month highs on expanding trading volume (36.12 -.12) -Update- -Technical-

Recent LoD now @ 35.86

13:56

USU USEC Inc.: USW Local 689 membership ratifies five-year contract with USEC almost two months ahead of the expiration of the existing contract (5.14 -0.03)

13:52

SPR Spirit Aerosystems has been named to the Boeing NewGen Tanker (20.68 -0.28)

Co announces that it has been named to the Boeing (BA) NewGen Tanker Supplier Team. Boeing, Spirit's largest customer, is bidding on the KC-X program, the U.S. Air Force's next line of tanker aircraft. Upon a contract award from the United States government to Boeing, Spirit will build the Boeing tanker's forward fuselage section in Wichita, Kan. After completion, Spirit will ship the hardware to Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility for final assembly. Boeing will respond to the Air Force's KC-X Request for Proposal by May 10, and the Air Force is expected to announce its decision later this year. The contract will be for 179 new KC-X aerial refueling tankers.

13:44

JW.A John Wiley and Bloomberg announce exclusive book publishing alliance (43.43 -0.20)

Bloomberg and John Wiley & Sons announced that Wiley will be the exclusive global publisher of BLOOMBERG and BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK branded books to be marketed as "BLOOMBERG PRESS, a Wiley imprint." Wiley intends to publish the content using all media platforms including print, e-books and digital. Wiley and Bloomberg will work closely to extend the BLOOMBERG and BUSINESSWEEK brands to long-form content in books and other formats.

13:37

MEE Massey Energy statement on West Virginia supreme court decision (49.50 +0.09)

Co reported that the West Virginia Supreme Court has denied the request of plaintiffs to reconsider the earlier decision in Massey's favor in Caperton vs. A.T. Massey Coal. The co notes that the Court allowed it to withdraw a $72 million bond that had been posted while this case was under consideration.

13:35

COMDX COMEX Metals Closing Prices

April gold finished flat on the day at $1108.10, May silver gained 15.2 cents to close at $17.17 and May copper ended up 0.9 cents to $3.377.

13:33

SXE Stanley Inc. awarded department of state global support strategy contract (26.58 +0.20)

Co announced that it has been selected as one of two prime contractors on the 10-year multiple award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity Global Support Strategy contract by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, to provide business process support services for both non-immigrant and immigrant visa-related operations at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad under a performance-based arrangement. The firm-fixed-price award has a $2.8 billion contract ceiling and includes a one-year base and nine one-year option periods.

13:10

XLF Financial space pushes to midday/session highs in recent trade -Update- -Technical-

FAS, IYF, XLF, KBE ETFs all help push the SPX index to new bounce/afternoon highs

13:08

DIS Walt Disney unit and Showtime Networks have entered into an exclusive output agreement (33.58 +0.25)

Disney-ABC Domestic Television, a division of The Walt Disney Company, and Showtime Networks have entered into an exclusive output agreement under which up to 35 of DreamWorks Studios' films, to be theatrically released between 2010 and 2015, will air on the network.

13:07

NFG National Fuel Gas announces David F. Smith elected Chairman succeeding Philip Ackerman (52.08 -0.14)

12:45

VXX Midday global & sector ETF view -Technical-

Actively Traded Leading Global & Sector ETF Plays:

VIX vol index- VXX +1.75%, Silver- SLV +0.75%, Commercial banks- KBE +0.50%, iShares Japan- EWJ +0.50%, Clean energy- PBW +0.50%, Pound/Sterling currency shares- FXB +0.50%, Regional banks- KRE +0.50%, Wind energy- FAN +0.25%, Heating oil- UHN +0.25%, Gold miners- GDX +0.25%, iShares Singapore- EWS +0.25%

Actively Traded Lagging Global & Sector ETF Plays:

Nat gas- UNG -3.25%, Semis- SMH -1.75%, IGW -1.50%, iShares homebuilders & construction- ITB -1.25%, iShares S Korea- EWY -1.0%, China 25- FXI -1.0%, India- INP -1.0%, Ag/chem- MOO -0.75%, iShares Taiwan- EWT -0.75%, iShares Australia- EWA -0.75%, Steel- SLX -0.75%, Emerging mkts- EEM -0.75%, RBOB gas- UGA -0.50%

12:41

SPY Trading volume analysis with chart-- NYSE & NASDAQ total trading volume very light compared to yesterday's midday tally -Technical-

Both primary exchanges are displaying very light volume are participation appears limited today with price languishing in the middle of today's narrow range. After yesterday's 'bullish accumulation' price/volume pattern relationship, it appears that mutual funds & hedge funds remain on the sidelines thus far, even as the index futures begin their roll out of the Mar. expiration & into the Jun. expiration.

As of 12:30p.m. ET, nearly 414M shares have changed hands on NYSE vs. 567.7M yesterday, a 25% decline, while over on NASDAQ, 1.08B shares have traded vs. yesterday's 1.28B total at this point, a 16% decline.

NYSE 60 min volume chart

NASDAQ 60 min volume chart

12:32

PRVT Private Media announces one-for-three reverse stock split effective at the close today (0.74 -0.01)

12:29

SMH Semis space continues to pressure NASDAQ here @ midday (26.86 -.50) -Update- -Technical-

Weakness still seen in SMH & IGW ETF recently as they trade to session lows.

NVDA, LRCX, LLTC, XLNX, KLAC, MRVL, AMAT, MXIM all some of the worst performers today in the NDX 100 (QQQQ)

12:22

BMTI Biomimetic Therapeutics announces positive preclinical results indicating that PDGF can enhance achilles and rotator cuff tendon repair- Wedbush (12.18 -0.03)

Wedbush notes currently there are no approved biological therapies for facilitating the repair and healing of tendons or ligaments after injury. The worldwide orthopedic market was estimated to be $19 bln in 2004 and there were approx 22 mln patients treated for cartilage, tendon and ligament injuries in the U.S. alone in 2003. Firm says autologous platelet rich plasma therapy has been studied in the treatment of rotator cuff repair and Achilles tendon repair, suggesting that PDGF may be a factor in the efficacy noted with this therapy. Firm notes PDGF improved the biomechanical function of Achilles and rotator cuff tendons in a preclinical animal model. Firm ntoes catalysts for the company in the near term include presentation of the Phase III data at AAOS, potential acceptance of the PMA (within 45 days of the filing), potential FDA Advisory Panel meeting Q3:10 and a potential European partnership for ABG.

12:18

Rumor Round Up

Aggressive rumor circulation continued today; following yesterday's lead. At t the open it was rumored that Chevron (CVX 73.79 -0.16) could be interested in Ultra Petroleum (UPL 48.39 +0.42). Gamestop (GME 19.50 +1.22) spiked to highs of the day as renewed takeover chatter circulated. Hologic (HOLX 18.61 +1.06) traded higher following a rumor that Phillips could be interested in the co. HOLX calls are seeing interest with 13.2K total calls traded vs 260 puts. Wyndham Worldwide (WYN 24.62 +0.20) saw a spike in volume and price following a rumor Starwood (HOT 41.76 -0.11) could be interested in the co. WYN Mar 25 calls are seeing interest following the rumor with 7060 contracts traded vs open int of 580. Emulex (ELX 13.83 -0.06) shares spiked ~$0.40 after a rumor circulated that Hewlett Packard (HPQ 51.68 -0.10) could be interested in the co. ELX shares were not able to hold onto their gains. As mentioned before, while many rumors circulate during the day, and the validity of the source of these rumors can be questionable, the speculation may increase volatility in the near term.

12:11

MPET Magellan Petroleum outlines Montana Field Consolidation, changes to existing warrant agreement (2.27 +0.13)

Co announces the completion of a transaction in North America, the amendment of a warrant agreement, and an update on gas sales flow updates in Australia. Montana consolidation In Montana, the Company has completed a consolidation of interests at the East Poplar Unit and North West Poplar fields in Roosevelt County, Montana. On March 9, 2010, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Hunter Energy under which the Company assumed Hunter's 25.05% average working interests in those Montana fields. Magellan, itself and through its subsidiaries, now controls a 93.80% average working interests there. On July 9, 2009, the Company executed and delivered to Young Energy Prize S.A. a Warrant Agreement entitling YEP to purchase 4,347,826 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.15 per Warrant Share. The Warrants were issued as part of a PIPE, which was conducted at a premium to the market share price at the time. At their issuance, the Warrants contained anti-dilution provisions that required the Warrants to be carried at fair value each quarter. The Company recorded non-cash charges of approximately $1.4 million and $986,000 related to the increase in the value of the YEP Warrants for the Company's first and second fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

12:10

COMDX European Markets Closing Prices: FTSE: 5617.3 -23.3 -0.4%; DAX: 5928.6 -8.1 -0.1%, CAC: 3929.0 -14.6 -0.4%, Spain's IBEX: -0.68%, Portugal's PSI: -0.03% -Update-

12:03

GSAT GlobalStar: DeLorme places order for new GPS satellite communicators from Globalstar (1.41 +0.13)

Co announced it has received a substantial order for the initial delivery of more than 15,000 SPOT Satellite Communicators from DeLorme. The introductory order will address DeLorme's retail distribution channel fill requirements.

11:51

IHR Interstate Hotels stockholders approve merger with 50/50 joint venture between Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels (2.25 +0.01)

11:43

SI Siemens AG Siemens creates global 60-Hertz turbine hub in the U.S. (91.96 -0.85)

Co announced that it will build a new 60-Hz gas turbine production plant at its existing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. As part of its expanded U.S. presence, Siemens will create a global production hub for manufacturing, servicing and other support functions related to the supply of its gas and steam turbines and generators to 60-Hz markets around the world. The initial investment will be approximately $135 mln. Production is slated to start in the fall of 2011.

11:40

COMDX New lows for nat gas at $4.417; now off 13.4 cents to $4.425

11:21

CBZ CBIZ Inc: Correction (6.45 +0.03) -Update-

In our 9:02 comment we incorrectly reported that CBIZ had secured a $1 mln clinical trial milestone from Novo Nordisk. The actual firm was CBio Limited (trades on Australian exchange). The previous comment has been removed.

11:00

CNLG Conolog announces design extension of the CM-100 platform to provide ethernet transmission applications (1.87 +0.21)

Co is adding Ethernet Transmission capability to its CM-100 multiplexer with IEC 61850 protocol. The CM-100 platform - A first of its type in direct communication between substations is being expanded to include Ethernet transmission for Smart Grid applications using the IEC 61850 protocol. "We plan line testing for the third quarter with production scheduled for the first quarter 2011."

10:55

TECHX NASDAQ COMP (COMPQ) edges above yesterday's 2361.66 HoD as the only index thus far to print new rally/YTD/52 week highs thus far @ 2361.75 -Technical-

10:54

XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR edges higher intraday to challenge its opening range highs near 15.51 (15.51 +0.04) -Technical-

Note yesterday's high is 15.56.

10:51

NGPC NGP Capital Resources is postponing its earnings release for one day to March 12, 2010 (9.20 -0.05)

10:35

VXX 1st hour global & sector ETF view -Technical-

Actively Traded Leading Global & Sector ETF Plays:

VIX vol index- VXX +1.25%, iShares Japan- EWJ +0.75%, Clean energy- PBW +0.50%, Silver- SLV +0.50%, Pound/Sterling currency shares- FXB +0.50%, SPDRS oil & gas exploration & prod- XOP +0.50%, Wind energy- FAN +0.25%, Heating oil- UHN +0.25%, iShares Singapore- EWS +0.25%, REgional banks- KRE +0.25%, iShares Transports- IYT +0.25%, Commercial banks- KBE +0.25%

Actively Traded Lagging Global & Sector ETF Plays:

Nat gas- UNG -1.50%, Semis- SMH -1.50%, IGW -1.0%, iShares S Korea- EWY -1.25%, China 25- FXI -1.0%, US airlines- FAA -1.0%, Biotech- XBI -1.0%, BBH -0.75%, IBBB -0.75%, Ag/chem- MOO -0.75%, Steel- SLX -0.75%, iShares Australia- EWA -0.75%, iShares homebuilders & construction- ITB -0.75%

10:30

UNG Natural gas ticks to lows following in-line draw down in inventories; now off 6.9 cents to $4.49

Lows at $4.472

10:26

HOLX NASDAQ 100 (NDX) leaders & laggards moving through today's 1st hour of trading -Technical-

NDX 100 Best % Performers:

HOLX +5.0%, FSLR +2.25%, EBAY +1.50%, RIMM +1.25%, SBUX +1.25%, ORCL +1.25%, ATVI +1.25%, AMZN +1.0%, GOOG +1.0%, BIDU +1.0%, TEVA +0.75%, ILMN +0.75%

NDX 100 Worst % Performers:

STX -4.0%, WCRX -2.50%, SHLD -2.0%, BBBY -2.0%, EXPE -1.75%, CERN -1.75%, CELG -1.50%, GENZ -1.50%, MRVL -1.50%, AMAT -1.25%, LRCX -1.50%, DELL -1.25%

NASDAQ TRIN @ +0.80

NASDAQ A/D @ -685

10:23

IBM Dow 30 (INDU) leaders & laggards moving through today's 1st hour of trading -Technical-

INDU 30 Best % Performers:

IBM +1.0%, TRV +0.50%, MRK +0.50%, PFE +0.25%, MSFT +0.25%, BAC +0.25%

INDU 30 Worst % Performers:

MMM -1.0%, KO -1.0%, JNJ -0.75%, GE -0.75%, PG -0.50%, CAT -0.50%, DD -0.50%

NYSE TRIN @ +0.60

NYSE A/D @ -830

10:20

ELN Elan: Azur Pharma announces the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire PRIALT from Elan (7.36 +0.10)

Co states: Azur Pharma Limited ("Azur") announced it has signed a definitive agreement with Elan to acquire the analgesic therapy, PRIALT(R) (ziconotide intrathecal infusion). PRIALT is indicated in the United States for the management of severe chronic pain in patients for whom intrathecal (IT) therapy is warranted, and who are intolerant of or refractory to other treatment, such as systemic analgesics, adjunctive therapies, or IT morphine. Azur has agreed to acquire worldwide rights (other than Europe) to PRIALT. Azur will offer employment to a 34 person specialty pharmaceutical infrastructure, which is currently supporting the product at Elan. End-user sales of PRIALT in the U.S. were approximately $20 million and $18 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.

10:18

CPD Caraco Pharma markets generic Eloxatin (4.91 +0.16)

Co has launched oxaliplatin injections. These 50mg and 100mg oxaliplatin injections, which are therapeutically equivalent to Eloxatin from Sanofi-Aventis (SNY), received approval from the FDA for Sun Pharma's Abbreviated New Drug Application. Oxaliplatin injections have annual sales of approximately $1.3 billion in the US.

10:17

TECHX Market View - - Leaders & Laggards -Update- -Technical-

Selling presure on the market off the opening puts majority of sectors in the red this morning. Laggards include Semis (SMH -1.39%, SOX -0.94%), Steel (DJUSST -1.14%), Computer Hardware (HWI -1.08%), Biotech (BTK -0.91%), Healthcare Products (RXP -0.91%), Chemicals (CEX 0.85%). Sectors showing relative strength include Rails (DJUSRR +0.73%), Internet (HHH +0.32%), Networks (NWX +0.27%), Healthcare Providers (RXH +0.22%), Banks (BKX +0.18%).

10:16

RIMM Research In Motion pushes to fresh 6-mth highs as it elevates modestly above yesterday's high of 75.50 (75.77 +0.92) -Update- -Technical-

10:13

BPHX Blue Phoenix wins $1 mln Natural/ADABAS modernization contract for global entertainment company (2.44 -0.02)

10:07

COMDX Pullback in dollar index, back into negative territory, helping gold, silver and crude all move higher

Gold now higher by 20 cents to $1108.30, silver is up 12.7 cents to $17.145 and crude oil is now flat at $82.09.

10:01

RTN Raytheon and Motion Reality entered into an exclusive reseller agreement to offer virtual 3-D mission and training applications to military, law enforcement and security forces (56.30 -0.80)

10:01

COMDX May copper futures spike ~4 cents (~1.2%) following news of another earthquake in Chile; now higher by 1.6 cents to $3.384

10:01

CAT Caterpillar contemplating shift of excavator production from Japan to United States (58.25 -0.51)

Co announced it has undertaken a study that could lead to a new hydraulic excavator facility being built in the United States. Such a move could triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators now produced by the company in the U.S. and significantly increase Caterpillar's employment in the U.S. dedicated to excavator production, and further leverage excavator production in Japan to serve increasing demand in China and across Asia.

10:00

CTV Commscope to relocate Newton manufacturing operations (28.37 +0.03)

Co plans to relocate cable production from its Newton, NC, facility later this year. The consolidation of wireless network cable production into a larger existing manufacturing facility in Joliet, IL is expected to begin in September and be completed by year-end, resulting in the loss of approximately 85 hourly and salaried jobs in Newton. CommScope expects cash restructuring costs of between $3 to 4 mln related to this move and annualized savings of approximately the same amount upon completion.

09:55

ECH USGS reports 7.2 magnitude quake in Libertador O'higgins, Chile region

09:52

SPY S&P sinks lower off the opening eyeing yesterday's reaction low of 1140.09 -Update- -Technical-

Dow Jones and Russell are also challenge their respective lows from yesterday. The Nasdaq remains in the middle of yesterday's range for now. SPX -6, Dow -54, Nasdaq -11, Russell -5.75

09:45

GCOM Globecomm Systems receives media infrastructure contract valued at $4.6 mln (7.82 -0.03)

09:44

TECHX Opening Point Gainers/Losers -Technical-

Point Gainers: GYMB (+3.23), VECO (+1.87), AIG (+1.15), DPS (+1.11), UPL (+0.93), GS (+1.00), IMAX (+1.04), SMTX (+0.91), TEAR (+0.98), FSYS (+0.99), (PVTB (+0.78)

Point Losers: YUII (-2.40), CF (-1.70), WG (-1.50), BUCY (-1.47), WDC (-1.36), EWBC (-1.26), CNK (-1.26), MW (-1.29), FCX (-1.07), CSR (-1.09), ACC (-1.13), HRBN (-1.04)

09:44

F Ford Motor: Kraft Foods to replace U.S. Sales fleet with Ford vehicles (12.82 -0.01)

Kraft Foods (KFT) takes delivery of 2,500 2010 Ford Fusions for its national sales staff. Co cites total cost of ownership, including fuel economy benefits, as the driving force in replacing U.S. sales fleet with new Ford vehicles. Ford's fleet share through December 2009 was 24.8%, a 1.9-point increase over the same period in 2008.

09:41

KGC Kinross Gold: Announces Proposed acquisition of Underworld Resources (17.79 -0.28)

Co announced that they have entered into a letter agreement whereby Kinross would offer to acquire 100% of the outstanding common shares of Underworld by way of a friendly take-over bid, other than the 8.5% of the Common Shares already owned by Kinross (on a fully-diluted basis). Subject to the execution of definitive agreements, the board of directors of Underworld unanimously recommends the offer to its shareholders and the directors and management team have agreed to tender their shares to the offer. Highlights of the proposed transaction - For each Common Share of Underworld, Kinross will offer 0.141 of a Kinross common share, plus $0.01 in cash. The offer represents an implied offer price of ~$2.62 per Common Share, based on the March 10, 2010 closing price of $18.54 per Kinross common share on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). The transaction values the fully-diluted share capital of Underworld at approximately $139.2 mln. - The offer represents an attractive premium of 36.0% over the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") on March 10, 2010, the last day of trading prior to announcement of the offer, and a premium of ~50.2% based on the volume-weighted average prices of the Common Shares and Kinross' common shares, for the 20 trading days ended March 10, 2010.

09:36

SMH Early tech. space weakness see in the semi space -Technical-

INTC, MRVL, ALTR, AMAT, LRCX, KLAC, NVDA some of the weakest components early in the NDX 100 (QQQQ)

09:31

GNBT Generex Biotech receives positive responses from independent physicians and nurse practitioners in recent focus groups conducted in the US for Generex Oral-lyn

Co announced that Health Management Resources, Inc. (HMR) has recently conducted two focus groups in Indianapolis for Generex Oral-lyn(TM). HMR provides educational programs, materials, and services to the healthcare industry. Specializing in diabetes management, HMR has collaborated with medical associations and industry to develop clinical practice guidelines and to facilitate delivery of diabetes-related information and education to healthcare providers and people with diabetes.

09:31

ANGN Angeion is official supplier of metabolic and endurance training systems for Team Garmin-Transitions (4.39 +0.15)

Co has entered into an agreement to serve as the official supplier of metabolic and endurance training systems for Team Garmin-Transitions, the American professional cycling team dedicated to ethical sporting and developing the next generation of cycling champions. Through the partnership, Angeion will provide Team Garmin-Transitions with New Leaf metabolic assessment and training equipment. The New Leaf Active Metabolic Training System(TM) is available in premier fitness clubs, corporate wellness programs, and sports training centers to measure human performance and how efficiently a person's body burns calories.

09:24

OXGN OXiGENE announces $7.5 million financing

Co announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain institutional investors to sell 6,578,945 shares of its Common Stock and separate series of warrants to purchase Common Stock in a private placement. Gross proceeds of the financing will be approximately $7.5 mln.

09:09

TEX Terex Corp divesting Atlas heavy construction equipment (22.31 )

Co announces that it has entered into an agreement to divest the Terex Atlas heavy construction equipment, which is located in Ganderkesee, Germany, and knuckle-boom crane and related components businesses, which have operations in Vechta and Delmenhorst, Germany. Also included as part of this transaction are the sales and service business located in Bradford, United Kingdom, and the Terex minority ownership position in the Atlas Chinese joint venture. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, although the business is being divested with an agreed-upon amount of capital to be transferred with the business. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010.

09:08

HDY Hyperdynamics announces extension of Memorandum of Understanding with government of Guinea (1.02 )

Co announces that the Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Republic of Guinea has been extended by five working days to allow the government to complete its review of a proposed amendment to the 2006 Production Sharing Contract among Hyperdynamics, Dana Petroleum and the Republic.

09:08

RA RailAmerica reports February 2010 monthly carloads (11.26 )

Co announces that its total freight carloads for the month ended February 28, 2010 were 66,409, up 1.4% from 65,488 in February 2009. These results exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation. The Company had increased shipments in February 2010 in five out of twelve commodity groups compared to February 2009. Much of the increase was due to shipments of Agricultural Products and Metallic Ores and Metals. The Agriculture Products carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the West, Central and Midwest regions. Metallic Ores and Metals were up primarily due to higher shipments in the Northeast and Southeast regions. The largest declines were in Non-Metallic Minerals and Products and the Other commodity group. Non-Metallic Minerals and Products were down primarily due to lower shipments in the Central and Northeast regions. Other was down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and Southeast regions.

09:07

RNR RenaissanceRe provides initial estimate of impact from the Chilean earthquake and European windstorm Xynthia; currently expects to report a profit for the first quarter of 2010 (55.53 )

Co announces that based on its initial assessment, the impact of the Chilean earthquake and windstorm Xynthia on its financial results will be significant and could be material. However, based on a review of the information currently available to the company, and subject to a range of current estimates and assumptions, the company currently expects to report a profit for the first quarter of 2010 (assuming the non-occurrence of additional severe insured catastrophe events during the remainder of the quarter and subject to normal volatility affecting assumptions underlying the company's financial performance). RenaissanceRe's preliminary estimate of losses from the two events is based on initial industry insured loss estimates, market share analysis, the application of its modeling techniques, and a review of its in-force contracts. It is difficult at this time to provide an accurate estimate of the financial impact of these events on the company, including as a result of the preliminary nature of the information available, inadequacies in the data provided thus far by industry participants, the magnitude and recent occurrence of the events, the expected lengthy claims development period, and other factors.

09:07

XOM Exxon Mobil discusses capital spending plans (67.22 )

Co states "We are executing a large inventory of projects and many others are under development. Actual spending in a given year will vary depending on the pace and the progress of each project. However, we are anticipating an investment profile of ~$28 bln in 2010 and a range of $25 bln to $30 bln per year on average through the year 2014."

09:04

TRIT Tri-Tech Holding awarded $3.7 mln for landfill construction project in Xinle City, China (14.44 )

Co announces that it has received a RMB25.4 mln (approximately US$3.7 mln) Build-Transfer contract for construction of a residential solid waste sanitary landfill for Xinle City, Hebei province. Tri-Tech will build the plant and transfer ownership to Xinle City. This landfill will be 100% funded by governmental investment.

09:02

STLD Steel Dynamics announces $300.0 mln debt security offering (17.88 )

09:00

ERI Emrise receives repeat orders for military power supplies valued at approx $900K (0.59 )

Co announces that it has received repeat orders from international customer valued at approx $900K for custom-built military power supplies to be used in a major US Government program. These new orders ensure a continuity of supply for EMRISE's customer once current orders for this program have been accelerated and delivered.

09:00

RICK Rick's Cabaret and VCG Holding Corp. extend letter of intent to merge to March 31, 2010 (14.22 )

Rick's Cabaret International (RICK) and VCG Holding Corp. (VCGH) announce that they have extended from March 12, 2010 until March 31, 2010 the Letter of Intent for a merger under which Rick's Cabaret would acquire the outstanding shares of VCG Holding to form the largest publicly traded operator of upscale gentlemen's clubs in North America. In a joint announcement, Eric Langan, President and CEO of Rick's Cabaret and Troy Lowrie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VCG Holding said they are committed to work toward execution of definitive documents as expeditiously as possible.

08:50

COMDX Sharp spike in dollar index sends crude and gold to their lowest levels of the session; silver nearing lows

Gold currently down $6.10 to $1102.00, silver is off $0.108 to $16.91 and crude oil is lower by 68 cents to $81.42.

08:45

ACI Arch Coal acquires stake in Trailblazer Energy Center (25.11 )

Co announced today that Arch has acquired a 35% equity interest in the Trailblazer Energy Center, which is being developed by Tenaska near Sweetwater, Texas. Arch's investment will be staged over time as the development of the project reaches key milestones.

08:39

WG Willbros Group agrees to Acquire InfrastruX Group in $480 million transaction; co says including both the pre-acquisition business and InfrastruX, they expect the combined entity to generate revenue in 2010 of $1.7-$2 bln, with earnings in a range of $0.20-$0.30 per diluted share (15.03 )

Co announces an agreement to acquire InfrastruX Group, a provider of electric power and natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure services. Under the agreement, stockholders of privately held InfrastruX will receive cash of $360 mln and 7.9 mln in new Willbros shares, amounting to approximately 19.9 percent of outstanding Willbros shares or $120 mln, based on the Willbros 10-day average closing stock price as of March 10, 2010. In addition, InfrastruX stockholders will be eligible for contingent earn-out payments of up to $125 mln in the aggregate. Those earn-out payments begin as EBITDA for the InfrastruX business exceeds $69.8 mln in 2010 and $80.0 mln in 2011. Willbros expects 2010 diluted EPS, on a pre-acquisition basis, to be in a range of $0.40-$0.50 (vs consensus of $0.82), based on rev of $1-$1.2 bln (consensus is $1.12 bln). On a pro forma basis, including both the pre-acquisition business and InfrastruX, WG expects the combined entity to generate rev in 2010 of $1.7-$2 bln, with earnings in a range of $0.20-$0.30 per diluted share. This annual proforma result is expected to include pre-tax costs associated with the transaction of approximately $11.0 mln, or $0.15 per diluted share, and amortization of $21 mln, or $0.28 per share, of intangible assets acquired. Company management expects the acquisition to become accretive to quarterly earnings per share during 2011. These expectations do not include the benefits of rev or cost-saving synergies.

08:36

On The Wires

Owensboro Medical Health System, a HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award recipient, and Masimo (MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, today jointly announced the completion of Owensboro Medical Health System's system-wide conversion to Masimo pulse oximetry technology... Clinicians at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich have treated their 100th patient using advanced proton therapy systems supplied by Varian Medical Systems (VAR)... Arcadia Capital Advisors note that they resubmitted on Febr 19, 2010, to CPEX Pharmaceuticals (CPEX) their original demand letter requesting permission to inspect CPEX's books, records and documents and make copies in contemplation of Richard Rofe's nomination and candidacy to serve on CPEX's Board of Directors to be voted on at the upcoming 2010 CPEX Annual Meeting of shareholders. Arcadia's initial Demand Letter was refused by CPEX in a response letter dated February 3, 2010.

08:34

INOD Innodata Isogen reports Q4 results (5.33 )

Co reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.03 per share. Revenue fell 17.8% yr/yr and 12% sequentially to $16.8 mln. There are no analyst estimates. "Our disappointing performance in Q4 reflects the impact of the cancellation of a major project we announced last week...While it will take some time to fully redeploy our resources from the canceled project to other client activities, we are working hard to make 2010 another year of profitable growth for Innodata Isogen."

08:32

SPY E~mini index futures display little reaction in price/slight downtick following premarket econ. data -Technical-

S&P 500 (ES) @ 1138.25 -2.75

NDX 100 (NQ) @ 1911.75 -4.75

INDU 30 (YM) @ 10487 -16

08:30

BSX Boston Scientific: FDA approves Boston Scientific's Express LD Iliac stent system (7.65 )

Co announced that the FDA has approved its Express LD Iliac Premounted Stent System for use in iliac arteries. The Express LD Iliac Stent is the first and only low-profile, premounted, balloon-expandable stent approved by the FDA for use in treating iliac artery disease. The Company said it plans to launch the product immediately in the United States.

08:30

COV Covidien: U.S. FDA and Health Canada Approve Use of Molybdenum (50.83 )

Co annunces that the FDA and Health Canada have approved the use of the Maria Research Reactor in Poland as a site to irradiate highly-enriched uranium targets for Molybdenum 99 production. Covidien will use the Mo 99 obtained from Maria in the manufacture of its Technetium 99m generators. Patients should begin to benefit from Maria-produced Mo 99 in the United States and Canada later this month.

08:18

U.S. foreclosure activity decreases 2% in February according to RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report

RealtyTrac released its February 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings were reported on 308,524 U.S. properties during the month, a decrease of 2% from the previous month but still 6% above the level reported in February 2009. The report also shows one in every 418 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in February. "The 6% year-over-year increase we saw in February was the smallest annual increase we've seen since January 2006, when we began calculating year-over-year increases, but it still marked the 50th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity," said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. "This leveling of the foreclosure trend is not necessarily evidence that fewer homeowners are in distress and at risk for foreclosure, but rather that foreclosure prevention programs, legislation and other processing delays are in effect capping monthly foreclosure activity -- albeit at a historically high level that will likely continue for an extended period. "In addition, severe winter weather appears to have temporarily slowed the processing of foreclosure records in some Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states."

08:14

TEAR OccuLogix Inc announced that TLCVision Corporation will be incorporating the TearLab Osmolarity System (2.79 )

Co announced that TLCVision Corporation will be incorporating the TearLab Osmolarity System in eight of its U.S. refractive surgery centers to study Dry Eye Disease symptoms as they relate to LASIK surgery.

08:14

ECONX Reminder: Initial Claims, Continuing Claims, and Trade Balance data due out in about 16 min at 8:30ET

08:10

Direxion shares launches six new leveraged ETFs

Co announces the launch of six new Direxion Shares Daily ETFs to its existing lineup of multi-directional, leveraged funds. This brings the total number of leveraged ETFs offered by Direxion to thirty-four. The new ETFs are leveraged Bull and Bear funds that seek 200% of the daily performance, or 200% of the inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses), of the BNY Mellon BRIC Select ADR Index and the Indus India Index. In addition, the new ETFs include leveraged Bull and Bear funds that seek 300% of the daily performance, or 300% of the inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses), of the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index. The new BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and India funds are the first 2x daily leveraged ETFs that Direxion has launched. Tickers: BRIL (Direxion Daily BRIC Bull 2x Shares), INDL (Direxion Daily India Bull 2x Shares), SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares), BRIS (Direxion Daily BRIC Bear -2x Shares), INDZ (Direxion Daily India Bear -2x Shares), SOXS (Direxion Daily Semicondustor Bear -3x).

08:05

CHYR Chyron reports Q4 results (2.14 )

Co reports Q4 (Dec) loss per share of $0.02. Revenue rose 7% yr/yr to $7.2 mln. There are no analyst estimates.

08:03

BA Boeing 747-8 freighter achieves initial airworthiness milestone (70.01 )

Co has completed initial airworthiness testing on the 747-8 Freighter. This milestone enables test engineers to be on board during future flights and allows the remaining two 747-8 Freighter test airplanes to begin flight test.

08:03

GTEC Global Defense Technology & Systems wins $18.7 mln award to provide expeditionary field feeding units to U.S. Army (13.97 )

Co announces that it has received an $18.7 mln delivery order with the U.S. Army Materiel Command to provide expeditionary field feeding units, also known as containerized kitchens, to the U.S. Army in support of the military's force modernization and mobility efforts. Delivery of the CKs is anticipated to begin in 2011.

08:02

GLP Global Partners reports Q4 net income per share of $0.91 vs. $0.80 First Call consensus; revenue was flat year-over-year to $1.7 bln vs. $1.7 bln consensus (24.06 ) -Update-

08:02

WBMD WebMD Health announces commencement of tender offer to repurchase up to 5,800,000 shares of its common stock at price of $45.80 per share (45.70 )

The co announces that it has commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 5,800,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $45.80 per share. The number of shares proposed to be purchased in the tender offer represents approximately 11% of WebMD's currently outstanding shares. The tender offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, April 8, 2010, unless extended by WebMD.

08:01

RHHBY Roche Hldg purchases Microarray Instrument and Accessory assets from BioMicro Systems (41.62 )

The co has purchased assets from BioMicro Systems for all products associated with the Roche NimbleGen microarray workflow. These assets consist of key instrumentation in the comprehensive Roche NimbleGen microarray workflow including the NimbleGen Hybridization Systems (both 4- and 12-bay models). Also included in this purchase are array accessories covering all mixers designed for the Roche NimbleGen high-density microarray portfolio. Roche Diagnostics will continue to provide global sales, service, and support for all products in the NimbleGen microarray workflows. With the purchase of these assets, Roche Diagnostics will transfer the manufacturing capabilities for the above products to an in-house manufacturing facility. According to Andreas Gortz, VP of Marketing at Roche NimbleGen, 'The acquired products are integral to the high quality data the NimbleGen array workflow provides researchers worldwide. Acquiring these assets will allow Roche complete control over the production, support and service of these products to ensure continued timely distribution, full support and the high level of service our customers have grown to expect from Roche."

08:00

PVH Phillips-Van Heusen reaffirms guidance for Q4 and FY11 (46.28 +0.57)

Co reaffirms guidance for Q4 (Jan), sees EPS of $0.59, excluding items, vs. $0.59 First Call consensus; sees Q4 (Jan) revs of $612.0 mln vs. $609.33 mln consensus. Co reaffirms guidance for FY11 (Jan), sees EPS of $3.20-3.25, excluding items, vs. $3.25 consensus; sees FY11 (Jan) revs growth of 3-4% (current consensus is for 4.26%).

07:55

BPAX BioSante announces positive Leukemia vaccine results (1.71 )

Co announced positive results of a human clinical study that show that its GVAX Leukemia vaccine may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking the drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). All patients enrolled in the trial used Gleevec for at least one year and still had cancer cells present. The GVAX Leukemia vaccine was given to 19 CML patients with measurable cancer cells, despite taking Gleevec for at least one year (range 13-53 months). Each patient was given a series of four vaccines administered in three-week intervals while remaining on a stable dose of Gleevec. After a median of 72 months of follow-up, the number of remaining cancer cells declined in 13 patients, eight of whom had increasing disease burden before vaccination. Twelve patients reached their lowest levels of residual cancer cells to date following vaccination. In seven patients, CML became completely undetectable. Patients receiving the GVAX Leukemia vaccine experienced relatively few side effects that included injection site pain and swelling, occasional muscle aches and mild fevers.

07:55

GLP Global Partners announces ethanol expansion initiative with Canadian Pacific Railway (24.06 )

Co announces multi-million-dollar expansion and tank refurbishment project that will add 180,000 barrels of ethanol storage capacity and rail access at the Partnership's refined petroleum products terminal in Albany, New York. Developed jointly with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), the project, expected to be operational in 2010, includes modifications that will enable the Albany terminal to schedule the delivery of 80-car trains of ethanol. Global Partners will connect the terminal to CP's adjacent Kenwood Yard rail facility via pipeline. The terminal and rail facility are strategically located along the Hudson River, providing access to the Partnership's terminal network in the Northeast.

07:47

On The Wires

EMCOR (EME) subsidiary awarded contracts for installation of electrical systems at Riverside energy resource center in California... Transocean (RIG) announces ultra-deepwater drillship discoverer inspiration begins five-year contract with Chevron (CVX) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico... DigitalGlobe (DGI) announces that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or NGA has exercised the option to extend its Service Level Agreement, or SLA, with DigitalGlobe. The option exercise ensures NGA continuity of access to WorldView-1 imagery at $12.5 mln per month through June 30, 2010 with six additional options to extend the SLA, each for a one month period, with the last option term expiring on December 31, 2010... SunEdison, a division of MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) received final approval from the Italian government to develop and construct a 72 Megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant in Northeastern Italy, near the town of Rovigo. When completed, this is expected to be the largest photovoltaic solar power plant in Europe... Tyler Technologies (TYL) has reached an agreement with Bowie County, Texas to provide its integrated court case management software solution. As part of the agreement, Tyler will provide software licenses, professional services, maintenance, and post-implementation support... Advanced Life Sciences Holdings (ADLS) announces FDA has provided guidance on the clinical program required to assess the approvability of Restanza, a novel oral once-a-day antibiotic, in the treatment of outpatient community acquired bacterial pneumonia as well as biodefense indications including anthrax, plague and tularemia... Applied Materials (AMAT) announces the opening of its newly expanded Tainan Manufacturing Center in Tainan, Taiwan... Virgin Media (VMED) announces a pioneering new trial using telegraph poles to deliver ultrafast 50Mb broadband to the Berkshire village of Woolhampton... AMD (AMD), OTOY and Super Micro (SMCI) announce that they plan to bring Fusion Render Cloud Servers to market in the second quarter of 2010... Furmanite Corporation (FRM) announces that Charles R. Cox, a director of Furmanite since 1995, has been appointed chairman and CEO by the board of directors. His appointment follows the retirement of Michael L. Rose as chairman and CEO and as a director... Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FMX) announces that subsidiaries of FEMSA have signed an agreement with subsidiaries of The Coca- Cola Company (KO) to amend the Shareholders Agreement for Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (KOF).

07:37

REVU Princeton Review reports Q4 results; sees FY10 revs below consensus (4.04 )

Princeton Review reports Q4 earnings of ($0.08) vs ($0.07) First Call consensus; revs decreased 4% year/year to $32.9 mln vs $38.11 mln First Call consensus; Co issues FY10 revenues guidance; sees FY10 revs of $225 mln to $235 mln, including the full year results from the Penn Foster acquisition and excluding any revenues associated with the anticipated joint venture with the National Labor College, vs First Call consensus of $260.45 mln. The Company also expects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock based compensation, restructuring and acquisition expenses to be between 12% and 14% of their revenues in 2010, after recording an estimated $8 to $10 mln of expenses for start up and organizational costs associated with the National Labor College and community college joint ventures.

07:30

EME EMCOR Group subsidiary awarded contracts for installation of electrical systems at Riverside Energy Resource Center (25.07 )

07:30

FRPT Force Protection receives award of $26.1 million for additional field service support (6.54 )

07:23

MTL Mechel Steel announces accident at Its Chelyabinsk metallurgical plant (25.61 )

Co announces gas flash at its Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (CMP) subsidiary. On March 11 at 9:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. Moscow time) in the coke shop #2 of Mechel-Coke OOO planned steam-cleaning operations for a gas pipe line of recycling coke gas were implemented. At 10:20 a.m. in the tunnel of the coke oven battery #8 machine coke gas exhausted and flashed. The gas pipe line was destroyed and coke gas burning followed. Barrier and wallstructures of the tunnel are also damaged. The accident caused death of one tunnel-servicing woman of the coke shop #2 and another tunnel-servicing woman was injured and brought to hospital. As of 14:00 p.m. local time, emergency works are implemented in accordance with operational plan. Damaged coke oven battery operations are stopped. Repair works are planned to take about two weeks. Daily furnace-size coke output of the plant will be decreased by approximately 900 tonnes.

07:16

ST Sensata Tech prices 31.6 mln share IPO at $18.00 per share, at the low end of the $18-20 expected range

07:15

ICO International Coal prices 22,371,365 common shares at $4.47/share (4.47 )

Co also announces pricing of $100.0 mln aggregate principal amount of its 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017.

07:07

On The Wires

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL) announces the managed distribution network partners that have been contracted to support XIAFLEX, a novel, first-in-class biologic for the treatment of adult Dupuytren's contracture in patients with a palpable cord... USA Technologies (USAT) announces that the number of devices connected to its USALive network reached ~71,000 as of March 11, 2010, a 12.3% increase from the 63,000 connections reported as of December 31, 2009... Streamline Health Solutions (STRM) announces that Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, will be implementing its Audit Integrity Manager Solution for more efficient enterprise compliance with government and healthcare related regulations... Smith & Nephew's (SNN) Endoscopy Division announces the introduction of the TWINFIX Ultra PK Suture Anchor, a new anchor to address wide variation in bone density and tissue quality for rotator cuff repair in the shoulder... Deer Consumer Products (DEER) announces that "Deer" branded juicer and blender products are the best selling products in their categories at China's largest online shopping mall, Taobao.com.

07:05

SFD Smithfield Foods beats by $0.03, misses on revs (18.99 )

Reports Q3 (Jan) earnings of $0.22 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.03 better than the First Call consensus of $0.19; revenues fell 13.8% year/year to $2.88 bln vs the $3.28 bln consensus. Firm anticipates FY11 hog production should improve year/year. Firm anticipates pork results should be solid, owing to restructuring plan that will be complete.

07:02

BKE The Buckle beats by $0.06, beats on revs (34.59 )

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.90 per share, $0.06 better than the First Call consensus of $0.84; revenues rose 9.1% year/year to $274.4 mln vs the $270.8 mln consensus. Comparable store net sales for the 13-week period ended January 30, 2010 increased 3.8 percent YoY vs the +3.5% consensus. Online sales (which are not included in comparable store sales) increased 35.6 percent to $18.0 million for the 13-week period ended January 30, 2010, compared to the 13-week period ended January 31, 2009.

07:02

APWR A-Power Energy announced the development and construction of a new production and assembly plant (12.02 )

Co announced the development and construction of a new production and assembly plant in Nevada that will supply wind energy turbines to renewable energy projects throughout North and South America. The facility will be approximately 320,000 square feet with annual production capacity of 1,100 megawatts of wind energy turbines annually, enough to power 330,000 homes. The facility is expected to employ approximately 1,000 Nevada workers and create even more jobs during the construction process.

07:01

BPZ BPZ Energy provides operations update for block Z-1 in Peru (7.29 )

Co announced update to the Company's operations for Block Z-1 in northwest Peru. Co averaged approximately 2,244 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q4 2009 from the CX11 platform in Corvina, consistent with the levels reported in third quarter 2009 of 2,334 bopd. Current quarter Corvina production to date from January 1, 2010 through March 7, 2010 has averaged approximately 3,630 bopd and for the first week of March it has averaged 5,521 bopd. Including the oil production from Albacora, currently being stored until the corresponding initial oil sales contract is executed, fourth quarter 2009 production from both fields averaged 2,273 bopd; while current quarter production averaged 4,295 bopd and first week of March production averaged 7,560 bopd. Co has learned that certain pieces of equipment required for the gas reinjection will be delayed, which would cause the Company to shut-in some or all of its production from May 31, 2010 until such equipment is in place.

07:01

MD MEDNAX announces the acquisition of Maryland Perinatal Associates (54.53 )

Co announces the acquisition of Maryland Perinatal Associates, PC, a group of four maternal-fetal medicine physicians based in Rockville, Maryland. Maryland Perinatal Associates also includes more than 45 clinical and administrative support staff who work with the physicians providing care to expectant mothers, including the management of high-risk and complicated pregnancies, in communities throughout Maryland. MEDNAX paid cash for the practice, and the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to its earnings. No additional terms of the transactions were disclosed.

07:00

SGEN Seattle Genetics expands antibody-drug conjugate patent portfolio (11.76 )

Co announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent related to its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. U.S. Patent No. 7,659,241 covers cleavable linkers and potent auristatin drug payloads used in certain of Seattle Genetics' ADC programs, most notably brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), as well as many ADC programs in development by its collaborators. Brentuximab vedotin, an ADC that utilizes the vcMMAE drug-linker unit, is in a pivotal trial for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and a phase II trial for relapsed and refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The co anticipates submitting a New Drug Application for brentuximab vedotin in the first half of 2011.

06:22

S&P futures vs fair value: -0.80. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: +0.50.

06:22

Asian Markets

Nikkei...10664.95...+101.00...+1.00%. Hang Seng...21228.20...+19.90...+0.10%.

06:22

European Markets

FTSE...2627.84...-12.70...-0.20%. DAX...5936.45...-0.30...0.00.

06:08

GEOI GeoResources misses by $0.11, beats on revs (15.79 )

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.14 per share, $0.11 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.25; revenues rose 25.2% year/year to $23.6 mln vs the $23.3 mln consensus.

06:08

SFE Safeguard Sci announces $47 mln debt exchange (13.16 )

Co announces it has entered into privately negotiated agreements with certain institutional holders of an aggregate of approx $47 mln in face value of its 2.625% senior convertible debentures due 2024 to exchange the debentures held by such holders for a like face amount of newly issued 10.125% senior convertible debentures, due 2014. The remaining $31 million outstanding face amount of the 2024 debentures will remain outstanding.

06:06

ADVS Advent Software announces acquisition of Goya AS (43.70 )

Co announces the acquisition of Goya, a privately held Norwegian software provider. Under the terms of the agreement, Advent acquired all of the outstanding shares of Goya. Through this acquisition, Advent can now offer Goya's product, Tradex, a software solution for fund managers and fund distributors in Europe and the Middle East.

02:13

DK Delek US Holdings misses by $0.22, beats on revs (8.37 )

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.50 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.22 worse than the First Call consensus of ($0.28); revenues rose 25.1% year/year to $849.5 mln vs the $741.7 mln consensus. In the co's refining segment, Gulf Coast refining economics remained severely depressed during the fourth quarter, as evidenced by a significant decline in the benchmark Gulf Coast 5-3-2 crack spread during the period. In the retail segment, positive same-store sales trends continued to signal broad-based stabilization in core Southeastern U.S. markets.

02:10

DVN Devon Energy announces $7.0 bln of property sales and oil sands joint venture (71.85 )

Co announces that it has entered into agreements to sell all of its assets in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Azerbaijan to BP (BP) for $7.0 bln. In addition, BP will assume Devon's leases of the Seadrill West Sirius and Transocean Deepwater Discovery drilling rigs for the duration of the contract terms. Co also announces that Devon and BP will form a heavy oil joint venture to develop BP's Kirby oil sands leases in Alberta, Canada. "These sales, combined with our previously announced divestitures of $1.3 billion of deepwater Gulf of Mexico assets, put Devon well on the way to completing its strategic repositioning," said Larry Nichols, Devon CEO. "Given any reasonable sales price for Devon's remaining divestiture assets, the transactions to date suggest that our total after-tax proceeds for the entire divestiture program will exceed our previously announced range of $4.5 to $7.5 billion."

01:22

STEI Stewart Enterpr beats by $0.01, misses on revs (5.19 )

Reports Q1 (Jan) earnings of $0.09 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $0.08; revenues rose 4.2% year/year to $124.4 mln vs the $133.1 mln consensus.

01:06

AGO Assured Guaranty announces that Dexia SA has priced a secondary public offering of 21,848,934 AGO common shares owned by selling shareholder at $22.66/share (22.66 )

01:04

ABIO ARCA biopharma announces going concern opinion (2.85 )

Co announces as required by NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5250(b)(2), that the report of the ABIO's independent registered public accounting firm, included in its previously filed consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, included in the co's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 4, 2010, contained an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt regarding the co's ability to continue as a going concern. This announcement does not represent any change or amendment to FY09 financial statements or to co's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

01:02

On The Wires

BIOLASE Technology (BLTI) announces that it has amended its licensing and distribution agreement with Henry Schein (HSIC). Within the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, and North America, all dental sales will continue to be provided exclusively through Henry Schein... Motorola (MOT) announces a global alliance with Microsoft (MSFT) to deploy Bing services on Motorola devices powered by Android... NV Energy (NVE) and Waste Management (WM) announce a 20-year power purchase agreement for the sale of renewable energy produced from a three-megawatt landfill gas-powered project to be located southeast of Reno, NV at Waste Management's Lockwood Landfill; facility is expected to be generating renewable energy by late 2011... EnergySolutions (ES) announces that it has been selected to provide waste management systems to new CPR1000 reactors being built as a part of the extensive nuclear new build program in China... Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) and BioInvent International AB announce that they have entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that specifically target antigens discovered by HGSI... Nova Measuring Instruments (NVMI) announces it will supply several NovaScan Integrated Metrology units to two memory manufacturers.

18:43

EQT EQT Corporation announces pricing of 12.5 mln shares of common stock offering at $44 (44.68 -2.69)

18:32

FCEL FuelCell Energy reports EPS in-line, misses on revs (2.95 +0.05)

Reports Q1 (Jan) loss of $0.18 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of ($0.18); revenues fell 32.7% year/year to $14.6 mln vs the $26.3 mln consensus.

18:27

CBB Cincinnati Bell prices offering of $625 mln of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2018 (3.15 -0.04) -Update-

Co announced that it has priced a public offering of $625 mln aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes due 2018, which represents an increase of $225 mln from the preliminary prospectus supplement. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 8.75 percent per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15, and the first interest payment date will be September 15, 2010.

18:24

Futures are mixed after hours with S&P 500 futures 0.14 points above fair value of 1145.16 and Nasdaq 100 futures 0.72 points below fair value of 1917.47

18:13

CNK Cinemark Holdings to significantly expand digital and 3D installations following DCIP funding (18.16 +0.54) -Update-

Co announced the completion of the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, LLC ("DCIP") financing transactions, which are expected to cover the cost of conversion for a large portion of the Company's U.S. screens. DCIP is a non-consolidated investment of Cinemark.

18:11

GEOY GeoEye signs commitment letter with Cerberus Capital Management for preferred stock issuance and debt financing (24.73 -0.23)

Co announced that on March 4 it entered into a binding commitment letter (the "Commitment Letter") with Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates, funds and managed accounts, "Cerberus"), pursuant to which Cerberus committed to purchase from the Co and the Co agreed to sell to Cerberus, subject to certain conditions, (i) up to 115,000 shares of a newly issued series of convertible preferred stock of the Co (the "Preferred Stock"), having an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the "Equity Financing") and an initial conversion price of $30.00 per common share; and (ii) if the Co so elects, $100.0 mlnin aggregate principal amount of newly issued senior unsecured notes of the Co.

17:36

VITA Orthovita reports EPS in-line, revs in-line; guides FY10 revs below consensus (3.80 -0.40)

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of less than $0.01 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of ($0.01); revenues rose 17.3% year/year to $24.4 mln vs the $24.5 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for FY10, sees FY10 revs of $106-112 mln vs. $113.27 mln consensus; sees bottom line ranging from breakeven to $2 mln of net income.

17:30

CSR China Security and Surveillance file to sell 20 mln in common stock in a Form S-3 (33.72 +0.35)

17:24

CNK Cinemark Holdings registers to sell 10 mln shares of common stock for holders (18.16 +0.54)

Co announced that it is filing a prospectus supplement to its existing shelf registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to an underwritten public offering by Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV, L.P. of 7,733,076 shares, Syufy Enterprises, LP of 1,266,924 shares and the Mitchell Special Trust of 1,000,000 shares of its common stock. Upon completion of the offering, Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV, L.P., Syufy Enterprises, LP and the Mitchell Special Trust will own approximately 32.1%, 5.3% and 4.9%, respectively, of Cinemark's common stock. Cinemark will not receive any proceeds from this sale of its common stock.

17:15

RE Everest Re Group provides preliminary loss estimates for the Chile earthquake and the European windstorm Xynthia (8.52 -0.52)

Co announced that its preliminary loss estimate for exposures relating to the earthquake in Chile is $225 mln. In addition, the Co estimates its loss for expected claims from the European Windstorm Xynthia to be ~$25 mln . Both of these loss estimates are being provided net of tax and reinstatement premiums. The Co's current estimates for these events are based on underwriters' preliminary analyses and judgments, client input and discussion, event modeling and profiling of exposed limits. Current industry loss estimates for the magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile range between $4-10 bln while the range of industry losses for the European Windstorm Xynthia is $2-4 bln. The Co expects it will be several months before relative clarity emerges with respect to its ceding companies' underlying losses from these two events and as new information emerges these estimates may need to be adjusted.

17:14

AFCE AFC Enterprises beats by $0.03, beats on revs; guides FY10 EPS in-line (8.52 -0.52)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.16 per share, $0.03 better than the First Call consensus of $0.13; revenues fell 9.5% year/year to $32.5 mln vs the $30.7 mln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for FY10, sees EPS of $0.73-0.77 vs. $0.75 consensus. Over the course of the next five years, the Company believes the execution of its Strategic Plan will deliver on an average annualized basis the following results: same-store sales growth of 1 to 3 percent; net new unit growth of 4 to 6 percent; and earnings per diluted share growth of 13 to 15 percent.

17:09

HEOP Heritage Oaks Bancorp to raise $60 mln through private placement (3.45 -0.30)

Co accredited investors, including board members, pursuant to which it expects to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $60 mln. The proceeds will be used for working capital, augmenting the balance sheet and for general corporate purposes, including increasing the capital of the Bank. The Co presently expects the transaction to close on Friday, March 12, 2010.

17:08

CPC Chemspec Intl reports EPS in-line, beats on revs; co sees Q1 higher YoY (7.39 +0.05)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.14 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of $0.14; revenues fell 36.4% year/year to $25.9 mln vs the $25.5 mln consensus. Q1 sales are expected to reach between RMB 205-210 mln in Q1 of 2010, which would represent an increase of between 2.3-4.8% from Q1 of 2009 and an increase of between 15.8% and 18.6% from Q4 of 2009. The increase is primarily expected to be driven by a strong recovery in demand in various end markets that incorporate the Co's products. Gross profit margin is expected to be at the Co's normal operational level of above 40%. Co said, "In terms of financial performance, we believe we began to experience a positive turn-around in early 2010 as we started to see a recovery in demand in various end markets that incorporate our products. Our guidance for Q1 2010 sales would represent a record for that period. Although there are still some visibility issues in terms of demand in the coming quarters for some of our products, we have a high degree of confidence that we can achieve quarter-over-quarter sales growth in the next few quarters based on our usual seasonal quarterly-sales fluctuations, our understanding of global market trends in 2010 as well as feedback from our long-term and new customers."

17:05

BPO Brookfield Properties announces modifications to Canadian Office REIT conversion proposal (14.65 +0.10)

The co and its Canadian-based subsidiary BPO Properties Ltd. announced that BPP will be shortly mailing its information circular to shareholders containing some modifications to the previously announced proposal to create Canada's pre-eminent office real estate investment trust (REIT), to be named Brookfield Office Properties Canada. After consultation with a number of interested parties, including the independent committee of the board of directors and its financial advisor, Brookfield Office Properties Canada has agreed to pay $100 mln of the purchase price for Brookfield Properties' interest in Brookfield Place in cash instead of solely through the assumption of debt and units in the new REIT, as originally announced. The remainder of the purchase price will be paid by the assumption of debt and units valued at approximately $20.90 per unit. In light of this change, Brookfield Office Properties Canada will not pay the previously announced special distribution to unitholders on closing of the transaction. The impact of the above cash payment is a reduction in the number of units outstanding by ~5 mln to 93 mln and an increase in expected funds from operations available to unitholders on an annualized basis in 2010 to $1.27 per unit from $1.20 per unit. In addition, Brookfield Office Properties Canada's monthly distributions commencing on closing of the transaction as modified will increase to $0.07 per unit, or $0.84 per unit on an annualized basis.

17:02

VHI Valhi reports Q4 loss of $0.03 vs. a loss of $0.25 in the prior year's quarter; revs rose 19.6% to $341.1 mln (18.59 -0.13)

17:02

LIFE Life Technologies announces scientists identified specific causative mutation associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease with technologies from Life Technologies (52.28 +0.10) -Update-

Scientists using advanced genomic analysis technologies from Life Technologies have sequenced an individual's genome and identified the specific causative mutation associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. In a paper published today by The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Baylor College of Medicine doctors Richard Gibbs and James R. Lupski used whole genome sequencing for the first time to identify the cause of an inherited disease.

17:01

SPH Suburban Propane announces pricing of public offering of $250 mln 7 3/8 % senior notes (46.80 -0.31)

17:00

UTX United Technologies Board authorizes repurchase program for 60 mln shares worth ~$4.3 bln (71.79 +0.01)

16:58

AAU Almaden Minerals provides Tuligtic copper-molybdenum project update (0.93 0.00) -Update-

The co and its Mexican subsidiary Minera Gavilan S.A. de C.V. announce results of a 2,973.05 meter seven hole preliminary diamond drilling program now completed at the Tuligtic copper-molybdenum project, Mexico. The exposed alteration is interpreted to represent a quartz-sericite-pyrite cap to a large porphyry copper-molybdenum system. Highlights of the drill program include 38 meters of 0.13% copper from 164 to 202 meters and 46 meters of 0.11 copper from 416 to 462 meters in hole DDH-01, 20 meters of 0.17% copper from 94 to 114 meters and 26 meters of 0.14% copper from 316 to 342 meters in hole DDH-02, 58 meters of 0.17% copper from 366 to 424 meters in hole DDH-03 (including 14 meters of 0.27% copper from 410 to 424 meters), 2 meters of 0.63% copper from 18 to 20 meters in hole DDH-04 and 20 meters of 0.11% copper from 276 to 296 meters and 8 meters of 0.13% copper in hole DDH-05. Molybdenum values were anomalous ranging up to 801 ppm (0.08%). Elevated gold values were also encountered including 2 meters of 1.34 g/t from 178-180 meters in hole DDH-01.

16:44

HIL Hill International reports EPS in-line, beats on revs (6.11 +0.09)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.12 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of $0.12; revenues rose 5.4% year/year to $110.3 mln vs the $103 mln consensus. Total backlog at the end of 2009 increased to $620 million, from $597 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Twelve-month backlog at the end of 2009 increased to $282 million, from $276 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009.

16:41

FCEL FuelCell Energy awarded $2.1 mln for fuel cell to be incorporated into Air Products' (APD) renewable hydrogen fueling station in California (3.12 +0.22)

Co announced subcontract awards totaling $2.1 mln from Air Products (APD). The prime contract to demonstrate a renewable hydrogen fueling station was awarded to Air Products (APD) by the California air resources board and supported by the south coast air quality management district, and U.S. Department of Energy. The project is to demonstrate an Air Products' concept which incorporates FuelCell Energy's DFC-H2 technology in a hydrogen fueling station. The DFC-H2 can produce clean power, heat and renewable hydrogen.

16:41

DRC Dresser-Rand expands two-year-old policy to prohibit subsidiaries from taking new business in Iran to now cover aftermarket parts and services (31.43 -0.30)

Co announced that it was expanding its previous decision in January 2008 barring its subsidiaries from entering into new contracts for any new units from states designated as sponsoring terrorism, such as Iran, to now cover all new business, including for replacement parts and services. "The decision today to discontinue the supply of aftermarket parts and services is believed to be of little financial consequence to our company, and is being made given the recent political events over the past several months. "It should also be noted that the replacement parts and services provided to such states were primarily for petrochemical, refinery and gas processing equipment, the products of which principally serve domestic energy markets for use in applications such as transportation and the heating of homes, and was in any case not destined for use in any type of nuclear facilities. We believe that these parts and services will now either be provided by the local equipment operators in country or by those of our overseas competitors who continue to serve these markets." The Company expects that the financial impact of today's decision will not be material to the Company.

16:36

CLF Cliffs Natural Resources announces pricing of $400 mln 5.9% public offering of senior notes due March 2020 (59.57 +0.39) -Update-

16:34

SMTC Semtech beats by $0.08, beats on revs; guides Q1 EPS above consensus, revs above consensus (17.35 +0.16)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.30 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.08 better than the First Call consensus of $0.22; revenues rose 35.6% year/year to $85 mln vs the $77 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q1 (Apr), sees EPS of $0.27-0.30, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.21 consensus; sees Q1 revs up 7-13% sequentially, which computes to $91-96 mln vs. $79.5 mln consensus.

16:31

BRNC Bronco Drilling announces monthly operating results (5.17 -0.24)

Co announced its drilling fleet was 45% for the month of February compared to 34% for the month of January and 31% for the fourth quarter of 2009. The co had an average of 37 marketed drilling rigs in February compared to 37 in January and 37 for the fourth quarter of 2009. The average dayrate on operating drilling rigs as of February 28, 2010, was $15,445 compared to $15,442 as of January 31, 2010.

16:30

BARI Banc Rhode Island announces increase to loan loss provision (29.48 +0.38)

Co announces that, as a result of information obtained after its January 28, 2010, announcement of year-end 2009 results and before filing its 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, it will record, in the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase to the provision for loan and lease losses totaling $1.5 million. The Company also will recognize a charge-off in an equal amount. The Company expects the increase to the provision will reduce its previously reported earnings for the fourth quarter 2009 by a net after-tax amount of $923,000, resulting in adjusted net income of $1.1 million, or $0.24 diluted earnings per share. The increase to the provision also will reduce net income for the year ended December 31, 2009, resulting in adjusted net income of $5.5 million, or $0.70 diluted EPS, after preferred stock dividends and discount accretion. Nonperforming assets as of December 31, 2009 will increase by $4.0 million to $20.0 million or 1.26% of total assets.

16:29

HUN Huntsman to issue up to $250 mln in senior subordinated notes due 2020 (13.52 +0.16)

16:28

MFB Maidenform Brands announces that one of its stockholders, Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund, is selling 3,187,351 shares of Maidenform common stock that it currently owns in an underwritten public offering (21.29 +0.26)

16:17

CLRT Clarient reports Q4 net loss per share of ($0.03) vs ($0.02) consensus; revs rose 6% YoY to $23.3 mln vs $24 mln consensus (2.49 +0.05)

Co sees FY10 revs of $108-$115 mln vs $113 mln consensus. The co also indicated that it is expecting to report net income for the 2010 fiscal year.

16:16

MVC MVC Capital announces sale of Dakota Growers to Viterra for $18.28 per common share (13.15 -0.22)

The co announces that its portfolio company, Dakota Growers Pasta Company ,has signed a definitive merger agreement with Viterra pursuant to which a subsidiary of Viterra will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Dakota Growers, a leading producer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America. The all-cash transaction, structured as a tender offer followed by a merger of a Viterra subsidiary and Dakota Growers, has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. The transaction represents a total enterprise value of $240 million, which includes equity value and anticipated net cash/debt at closing, subject to certain adjustments for transaction costs and other closing adjustments. Dakota Growers reported revenues and EBITDA of approximately $275 million and $42 million respectively for the latest twelve months ended October 31, 2009. As further described below, the anticipated gross proceeds of approximately $38 million to the Fund resulting from this transaction would exceed the Fund's current carrying value of its investment in Dakota Growers.

16:16

CAR Avis Budget amends existing credit facility and completes offering of senior notes (11.20 -0.18)

Co reports: The credit facility amendment and senior notes offering would extend the maturity of nearly $1.0 bln of revolving credit commitments (under which no borrowings are currently outstanding) by two years, to 2013; revise the financial and non-financial covenants in the credit facility to provide significantly greater flexibility to the co; result in the repayment of ~$450 mln of outstanding term loan borrowings; and extend the maturity of approximately $275 mln of remaining term loan borrowings by two years, to 2014.

16:15

AAU Almaden Minerals provides shareholders details of its 2010 corporate and exploration plans (0.93 +0.02)

Co provides shareholders details of its 2010 corporate and exploration plans and a brief review of its most important projects. "projects include the copper-gold porphyry portion of the Caballo Blanco project, now called El Cobre, in partnership with Goldgroup. We look forward to reporting drill results from this and other projects in what will be a busy year for the company." Co has no debt and as of January 10, 2010 had $C13.0 Million in cash, $C2.5 Million in equity holdings and 1,590 ounces of refined gold. Co plans to spend $2 mln in exploration including property work and drilling as well as regional exploration. At present Almaden holds an undivided 100% interest in 24 projects in Mexico, Canada and the United States including the Elk gold deposit in British Columbia where the company has defined a 43-101 compliant resource.

16:13

FXCB Fox Chase Bancorp announces adoption of plan of conversion and reorganization (9.66 +0.16) -Update-

Co unanimously adopted a Plan of Conversion and Reorganization pursuant to which Fox Chase Bank will reorganize from the two-tier mutual holding company structure to the stock holding company structure and will undertake a "second-step" stock offering of shares of common stock of a new corporation formed in connection with the conversion. Fox Chase Bank converted from a mutual savings bank to the two-tier mutual holding company structure and offered and sold a minority of the shares of the mid-tier stock holding company in 2006. (stock is halted)

16:11

IPAR Inter Parfums misses by $0.01, reports revs in-line; guides FY10 EPS below consensus, revs below consensus (13.51 +0.06)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.18 per share, $0.01 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.19; revenues rose 12.5% year/year to $112.9 mln vs the $113.6 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for FY10, sees EPS of ~$0.78, incl $0.05 in charges, vs. $0.80 consensus; sees FY10 revs of $440 mln vs. $446.39 mln consensus. Co said, "Assuming the dollar remains at current levels, and no new acquisitions, licenses and/or specialty retail agreements, we remain confident that we will achieve our current guidance The co's guidance ance factors in the costs associated with the development and launch of the Burberry cosmetics line which requires a significant investment in the first year to develop the product, build cosmetic counters, and hire and train personnel. As previously indicated, these expenses are expected to affect 2010 net income attributable to IPAR by ~$0.05 per diluted share."

16:11

GHM Graham awarded $6 million in condenser orders (19.05 +2.17)

16:11

GYMB Gymboree beats by $0.01, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 EPS in-line; announces international expansion agreement (46.29 +1.00)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $1.11 per share, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $1.10; revenues rose 3.8% year/year to $299.6 mln vs the $299.9 mln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.90-0.94 vs. $0.90 consensus. As previously reported, comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 2% versus the fourth quarter of the prior year. Gross profit for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009 was $140.0 million or 46.7% of net sales compared to $124.3 million or 43.0% of net sales for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008. Excluding the impact of the prior year $6.0 million write-off of merchandise inventories, gross profit increased 180 basis points. During the first quarter, the co plans to open 35 new stores consisting of 3 Gymboree stores, 6 Gymboree Outlets, and 26 Crazy 8 stores. Co announces it has entered into a multi-year franchise agreement with Azadea G Group Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Azadea Group Holding SAL, to launch the Gymboree retail brand in the Middle East. The first stores are scheduled to open in Dubai during the third fiscal quarter of 2010.

16:10

FXCB Fox Chase Bancorp halted, news pending (9.66 +0.16)

16:10

ADK AdCare Health Systems to acquire two Alabama nursing homes for $18.5 mln (5.84 -0.11)

Co has signed a definitive purchase agreement for two privately-held nursing homes in Alabama for $18.5 mln. The facilities have a total of 312 beds and currently generate ~$18 mln in annualized revenue. The acquisitions, which represent the co's first expansion outside of Ohio, are expected to increase AdCare's annualized revenue by 60% and be immediately accretive to earnings. Management expects to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2010.

16:09

NABI NABI Biopharma beats by $0.13, beats on revs (5.70 +0.14)

Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.02 per share, $0.13 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.11); revenues were $10.5 mln vs First Call consensus ests of $2.21 mln. Revenues reflect payments recognized from the sale of PentaStaph to GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A. (GSK). This includes $3.1 mln from the initial $21.5 mln payment received from GSK which is being recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the transition services agreement, a $5 mln payment for the successful achievement of a PentaStaph performance milestone and $2.4 mln related to services provided under the transition services agreement.

16:09

ROVI Rovi to offer $400 mln convertible senior notes due 2040 (36.34 +0.52) -Update-

16:07

IDSY I.D. Systems misses by $0.02, beats on revs (3.10 +0.17)

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.21 per share, $0.02 worse than the First Call consensus of ($0.19); revenues fell 63.3% year/year to $2.9 mln vs the $2.3 mln consensus. Gross margin for the qtr was 28%. Excluding the inventory reserve charge, gross margin for the period was 50%.

16:06

MW Men's Wearhouse beats by $0.05, misses on revs; guides Q1 EPS above consensus (24.83 +0.08)

Reports Q4 (Jan) loss of $0.11 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.05 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.16); revenues fell 4.0% year/year to $457.2 mln vs the $465.9 mln consensus. Gross margin before occupancy costs, as a percentage of total net sales, decreased 105 basis points from 53.7% to 52.7%. Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.12-0.16, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.09 consensus. Capital expenditures for the full year are targeted in a range of $55 million to $60 million and depreciation and amortization is estimated at $75 million.

16:06

HOTT Hot Topic reports EPS in-line, revs in-line; issues Q1 guidance (6.55 +0.02)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $0.18 per share, in-line with the First Call consensus of $0.18; revenues fell 10.0% year/year to $214.2 mln vs the $214.6 mln consensus. Co issues guidance for Q1, sees EPS of (0.02)-(0.05), which includes approximately $0.02 of expense related to ShockHound, may not be comparable to ($0.02) consensus. This guidance is based upon a comp store sales decline in the high-single-digit percentage range.

16:06

KTOS Kratos Defense and Security awarded fully funded foreign military sales weapon systems contract valued at over $48 million (14.21 +0.02)

16:05

TBBK The Bancorp announces $45.2 mln repayment of TARP funds (7.96 -0.01)

Co repurchased all of the outstanding Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, issued to the United States Treasury Department under its Capital Purchase Program (TARP). As a result of the $45.2 mln repayment, $3.7 mln of annualized dividends and accretion which previously reduced earnings per share will be eliminated. Those charges equate to approximately $5.6 mln of additional earnings potential available to common shareholders on a pre-tax basis. As a result of the repayment, a one-time, non-cash, charge of $5.6 mln, comprised of the remaining accretion, will be recognized in the first quarter of 2010. After repaying the TARP funds, Bancorp's leverage capital ratio as of December 31, 2009 continued to exceed 10%, compared to a well capitalized requirement of 5%.

16:05

CLNE Clean Energy Fuels beats by $0.01, beats on revs (19.32 +0.34)

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.03 per share, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.04); revenues rose 49.1% year/year to $42.2 mln vs the $40.3 mln consensus. Gasoline gallon equivalents (Gallons) delivered during the fourth quarter of 2009 totaled 29.5 million, up 58% from 18.7 million Gallons in the same period a year ago. For the year, volume increased 37% to 101.0 million Gallons, compared with 73.5 million Gallons in 2008. Gallons include the Company's sales of CNG, LNG, and biomethane and the Gallons associated with providing operations and maintenance services. "We are pleased with our improved financial results and our volume growth for the year, which was achieved through growth in each of our key markets of refuse, regional trucking, airports and transit. This is particularly noteworthy in light of the tough economic climate in 2009. The fact that we saw acceleration in station construction and deal flow at a time when all of our customers were focused on cutting their costs is really a testament to the elevated importance of cleaner fuels that we are seeing in this country. With $67.1 million in cash and cash equivalents on hand at year end, we believe we are well positioned to continue to grow our business in 2010."

16:02

JAS Jo-Ann Stores beats by $0.03, reports revs in-line; guides FY11 EPS in-line (40.01 +0.72)

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $1.36 per share, $0.03 better than the First Call consensus of $1.33; revenues rose 5.3% year/year to $602.2 mln vs the $600.4 mln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for FY11, sees EPS of $2.75-2.90 vs. $2.85 consensus. "During fiscal year 2010, the Jo-Ann team effectively executed our strategic objectives. These included: revitalizing our store base, expanding our gross margin rate, capitalizing on changes in the competitive environment, and leveraging our new systems capabilities. We achieved all of this while maintaining tight control of our expenses, inventory, and capital spending, which allowed us to report significant expansion of operating margin and record earnings."

16:02

MBLX Metabolix beats by $0.05, misses on revs (10.93 +0.30)

Reports Q4 (Dec) loss of $0.39 per share, $0.05 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.44); revenues fell 50.0% year/year to $0.2 mln vs the $0.5 mln consensus. The Company also commented on the status of its ongoing Food Contact Notification with the FDA. The Company noted that it had responded to two sets of comments by the FDA and continues to be confident that it can satisfy the needs for any additional commentary and data that may be requested as this process continues. While it cannot be certain, the Company expects to be selling product for food contact applications during the current fiscal year and is already working with select food contact customers in product prototyping and taste and sensory testing.

16:01

CA CA Inc to acquire Nimsoft for $350 mln (22.60 -0.29)

Co announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Nimsoft, Inc.--a provider of IT performance and availability monitoring solutions for emerging enterprises and Managed Service Providers (MSPs)--in an all-cash transaction valued at $350 mln. The acquisition significantly extends CA's ability to meet the unique IT management needs of emerging enterprises and MSPs, both of which are playing leading roles in the growth of cloud computing. CA estimates that emerging enterprises, which it categorizes as organizations with annual revenues from $300 mln to $2 bln, will account for approximately a quarter of the software spending in CA's market space by 2013. By leveraging Nimsoft's market expertise and technology, CA expects to add an entirely new set of customers to its base, which historically has been comprised of large enterprises.

16:00

HIBB Hibbett Sporting promotes Rosenthal to CEO (24.50 -0.16)

The co announces that Mickey Newsome, the co's Chairman and CEO, will become Executive Chairman of the Company. Jeffry Rosenthal, the co's President and COO, has been promoted to President and CEO. Both moves are effective March 15, 2010.

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