March 2012 Archives

Forbes wrote that Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) must expand its spectrum in order to compete with rivals Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). Shares of Sprint lost 13 cents to close at $2.85 while Verizon stock edged up 16 cents to close at $38.23. AT&T stock edged up 2 cents to close at $31.23.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) engaged in possible acquisition discussions with several private equity firms. Shares of the apparel and accessories company climbed $1.53 to close at $13.36.

Shares of Best Buy Co. (NYSE: BBY) continued falling by tumbling $1.09 to close at $23.68 after posting a fourth quarter loss yesterday and announcing plans to close 50 stores.

Credit Suisse cited weak margins for lowering its first quarter earnings outlook for Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO). Shares of the independent petroleum company lost 91 cents to $25.74.

Research in Motion Ltd. (Nasdaq: RIMM) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter of 24 cents per diluted share compared with earnings of 51 cents per diluted share a year earlier but investors welcomed the departure of  several executives. The stock price gained 87 cents to $1.460.

The Finish Line Inc. (Nasdaq: FINL) reported higher fourth quarter earnings of 80 cents per shares compared with 63 cents per share in the year ago period but warned of lower first quarter earnings sending the stock price plummeting $3.48 to $21.86.   

Newcastle Investment Corp. (NYSE: NCT) priced its public offering of 16.5 million common shares at the discounted price of $6.22 per share sending the stock price down 32 cents to close at $6.16.

Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) will introduce its new LTE 4G network midyear lifting the stock price 15 cents to close at $2.98.

Bernstein Research analyst Ana Gupta expects Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) to benefit when the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Shares of Aetna surged $3.04 to close at $49.56 while UnitedHealth stock soared $2.67 to close at $58.11.

Federal authorities charged JetBlue Airways Corp. (Nasdaq: JBLU) captain Clayton Osbon with interfering with a flight crew. The stock price lost 40 cents to $4.82.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter of $4.89 per share from earnings of $1.62 per share a year earlier and announced plans to close 50 stores and eliminate 400 jobs sending the stock price tumbling $2.49 to $24.13.

Fourth quarter earnings rose for Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) to 18 cents per share from 17 cents per share in the year ago period to top analyst estimates prompting the software company to forecast current quarter and full year results ahead of expectations. The stock price leaped $7.98 to $59.37.

Pentair Inc. (NYSE: PNR) will merge with Tyco International Ltd.'s (NYSE: TYC) flow control business. Shares of Pentair leaped $6.06 to close at $46.32 while Tyco stock soared $2.28 to close at $55.81.

Zalicus Inc. (Nasdaq: ZLCS) completed its equity distribution agreement with Wedbush Securities. Shares of the biopharmaceutical rose 17 cents to close at $1.25.

Deutsche Bank downgraded A123 Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: AONE) to a Hold rating sending the stock price down 18 cents to close at $1.22.

Speculation that Glu Mobile Inc. (Nasdaq: GLUU) may be acquired lifted share of the mobile gaming company 52 cents to close at $4.99.

Investors locked in profits on Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA), whose stock price climbed the last two days after announcing that European regulators accepted the marketing application for its weight loss treatment Lorcaserin. Shares of the biopharmaceutical lost 34 cents to close at $2.92.  

Bloomberg reported that Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) rejected a $3.5 billion acquisition offer from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY). Shares of Amylin leaped $8.38 to close at $23.77 while Bristol-Myers stock held steady at $33.67.

Apollo Group Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL) swung to a profit for the second quarter of 51 cents per share from a loss of 45 cents per share in the year ago period but the for profit educator warned of lower enrollment sending the stock price plummeting $3.66 to close at $39.54.

Shares of Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) continued falling by dropping 99 cents to close at $17.79 after chief executive Anthony Petrello said in a regulatory filing yesterday that the company's investment in exploration and production businesses was a wrong decision. 

Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) reported lower first quarter earnings of 8 cents per share compared with 14 cents per share in the year ago period but the results beat expectations lifting the stock price $1.23 to close at $27.63.

Total SA (NYSE: TOT) evacuated personnel from its Elgin, Franklin and West Franklin fields on Sunday due to a natural gas leak. Shares of the oil and gas company tumbled $3.72 to $51.07.

Oclaro Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR) will acquire Opnext Inc. (Nasdaq: OPXT) in an all stock deal valued at approximately $177 million. Shares of Oclaro slipped 40 cents to $4.26 while Opnext stock surged 55 cents to $1.68.

McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE: MMR) reported an equipment malfunction at its Davy Jones prospect in the Gulf of Mexico sending the stock price down $1.08 to $11.06. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany will cut solar subsidies sending shares of Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) down 44 cents to close at $7.65.   

Office Depot Inc. (NYSE: ODP) announced that NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart would appear at the grand reopening ceremony of 13 remodeled stores in Houston. Shares of the office supplies retailer gained 25 cents to close at $3.79.

Credit Suisse cited Safeway Inc.'s (NYSE: SWY) greater than expected underfunded pension liability for downgrading the supermarket operator to a Neutral rating weighing the stock price down 71 cents to close at $20.42. 

A123 Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: AONE) will spend approximately $55 million to replace defective batteries produced at its Livonia, Michigan manufacturing plant. The stock price dropped 21 cents to $1.49.   

The European Medicines Agency accepted Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ARNA) Marketing Authorization Application for the weigh loss treatment Lorcaserin. Shares of the biopharmaceutical leaped 76 cents to $3.17.

Investors locked in profits on KB Home (NYSE: KBH) sending the stock price down 64 cents to $9.65. Shares of the homebuilder climbed last week after narrowing first quarter losses.   

Needham analyst Sean McGowan initiated coverage of Glu Mobile (Nasdaq: GLUU) with a Strong Buy sending the stock price soaring 85 cents to close at $4.85.

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: KORS) priced its secondary offering of 25 million common shares at the discounted price of $47 per share. The stock price dropped $1.72 to close at $47.00

A Seeking Alpha contributor expects Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ARNA) weight loss drug Lorcaserin to be approved without restrictions in the United States as well as in Europe lifting the stock price 37 cents to close at $2.41.

KIT digital Inc. (Nasdaq: KITD) named chief executive Kaleil Isaza Tuzman to the position of chairman, appointed chief administrative officer Barak Bar-Cohen as interim chief executive and announced the resignation of four board members. Shares of the online video software maker plunged $1.98 to $6.17.

KB Home (NYSE: KBH) narrowed losses for the first quarter to 59 cents per share from $1.49 per share in the year ago period but orders for new homes dropped. The stock price lost 98 cents to $10.26.   

Rumors that Sandridge Energy Inc. (NYSE: SD) will be acquired lifted shares of the natural gas and oil company 67 cents to $8.30.

Cenveo Inc. (NYSE: CVO) amended its pending cash tender offer sending the stock price tumbling 79 cents to close at $3.38.   

Shares of Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: WPI) continued rising by soaring $2.41 to close at $66.10 after reports surfaced yesterday that the company was close to signing a deal to acquire Actavis.

Needham analyst Richard Kugele upgraded Western Digital Corp.(NYSE: WDC) to a Strong Buy rating and lifted his price target from $50 to $66. The stock price soared $2.61 to close at $42.06.

The Natural Resources Ministry in Russia is investigating Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL) for a number of violations at its Yakutugol mines sending the stock price down 71 cents to $9.72. 

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) reported sharply higher first quarter earnings of $1.18 per share compared with 84 cents per share in the year ago period as transactions increased while late payments and defaults dropped. The stock price climbed $1.26 to $32.90.

A Seeking Alpha contributor wrote yesterday that the granting of a patent for Galena Biopharma Inc.'s (Nasdaq: GALE) breast cancer treatment NeuVax will bring great financial benefits to the company. The stock price rose 17 cents to $2.94.

USG (NYSE: USG) reported upbeat preliminary results for the first two months of the first quarter lifting the stock price $1.89 to close at $19.00.

Rumors circulated that generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: WPI) was close to finalizing a deal to acquire rival Actavis. The stock price surged $5.16 to close at $63.69.

Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) warned of sequentially lower first quarter earnings sending the stock price tumbling $2.78 to close at $45.04.   

Moody's Investors Service placed Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE: AGO) on review for a possible downgrade sending the stock price plummeting $3.10 to close at $15.72. 

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (Nasdaq: GMCR) will offer Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX) coffee or Tazo tea for its new Keurig Vue Brewer. Shares of Green Mountain jumped $5.70 to $56.40 while Starbucks stock added 12 cents to $53.85.

Galena Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: GALE) appointed renowned breast cancer researcher Dr. Hope S. Rugo to its Scientific Advisory Board. The stock price soared 77 cents to $2.72. 

The Commerce Department imposed tariffs on Chinese solar imports that were lower than expected which lifted shares of Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) 44 cents to close at $3.57, Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) 61 cents to close at $8.38 and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. (NYSE: YGE) 46 cents to close at $4.27. 

Recon Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq: RCON) introduced the Baker Hughes Frac-Point System to China Petroleum and Chemical's Zhongyuan oilfield sending the stock price soaring $1.67 to close at $3.92. 

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported lower fourth quarter earnings of $1.39 per share compared with $1.41 per share in the year ago period but the upscale jewelry retailer forecast 2012 earnings and revenue ahead of estimates. The stock price leaped $4.59 to close at $73.27.

AstraZeneca and Targacept Inc. (Nasdaq: TRGT) announced disappointing results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of their antidepressant TC-5214 and will no longer pursue regulatory approval for the treatment. Shares of Targacept plummeted $2.07 to $5.34.  

The U. S. Patent Office issued Galena Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: GALE) a Notice of Allowance for a patent for the company's NeuVax breast cancer vaccine sending the stock price soaring 34 cents to $1.89.

Amarin Corp. (NYSE: AMRN) received a U. S. patent for its heart medication AMR-101. Shares of the biopharmaceutical climbed $1.27 to $11.93.

Shares of KB Home (NYSE: KBH) dropped 87 cents to close at $11.89 after home builder sentiment held steady in March instead of rising.   

Analysts expect Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.'s (NYSE: LGF) "The Hunger Games" to open this weekend with over $100 million in ticket sales. Shares of the entertainment company climb $1.04 to close at $14.25.

Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) to an Underperform rating saying that the company will not be able to sell the 25 million to 30 million iPhones that it committed to selling over four years. The stock price lost 13 cents to close at $2.76.   

Shares of oil tanker operators DHT Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DHT) rose 22 cents to $1.47, Frontline Ltd. (NYSE: FRO) climbed $1.16 to $8.81 and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK) gained 31 cents to $5.55 after the Vancouver Sun reported that Saudi Arabia will increase oil sales to the United States.

Merck will no longer develop the oral formulation of its atrial fibrillation recurrence prevention medication vernakalant with Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Nasdaq: CRME). The stock price plummeted $1.06 to $0.87.

Analysts lifted their price target and earnings estimate for United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) sending the stock price soaring $2.16 to $31.91.

Five Star Equities issued a research report on Radian Group Inc. (Nasdaq: RDN) saying that analysts expect uncertainty to continue in the property and casualty insurance industry sending the stock price down 22 cents to close at $4.17. 

Rumors that billionaire investor Warren Buffet may be interested in purchasing coal stocks lifted shares of Patriot Coal (NYSE: PCX) 61 cents to close at $7.17. 

Fourth quarter earnings more than doubled for Perfect World Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq: PWRD) to beat analyst expectations as revenue soared. Shares of the online game developer surged $3.46 to close at $16.01.

Shares of Amarin Corp. (Nasdaq: AMRN) continued rising by climbing $1.71 to $10.62 over expectations that the U. S. Patent and Trademark will grant a patent for the biopharmaceutical's cancer treatment AMR-101.

Shares of Frontline Ltd. (NYSE: FRO) soared $1.23 to $7.41 after Dahlman Rose wrote that oil tanker rates are expected to be "very well supported in the coming weeks." 

Discovery Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO) priced its offering of approximately 16 million common shares at the discounted price of $2.80 per share sending its stock price down 62 cents to $2.89.   

az magazine named US Airways Group Inc. (NYSE: LCC) one of the Top 25 Workplaces for Women lifting the stock price 49 cents to close at $7.58.

USG Corp. (NYSE: USG) commenced a $300 million cash tender offer for its outstanding 9.75% senior notes due 2014. The stock price climbed $1.84 to close at $17.41.

Shares of Amarin Corp. (Nasdaq: AMRN) continued rising by gaining 89 cents to close t $8.91 over optimism that the biopharmaceutical's cardiovascular disease treatment AMR-101 will receive a patent and be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE: ACI) named Lawrence Metzroth to the position of vice president of business development and market intelligence in Asia-Pacific and named Andrew Blumenfeld as vice president of analysis and strategy. The stock price gained 94 cents to $12.38.

Shares of CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) climbed $1.52 to $21.73 after Deutsche Bank Securities analyst Justin Yagerman said that investors oversold railroad stocks when coal demand fell.

Guess Inc. (NYSE: GES) reported lower fourth quarter earnings of $1.05 per share compared with $1.11 per share in the year ago period and forecast current quarter and 2012 results below analyst expectations. Shares of the apparel and accessories retailer plunged $3.71 to $32.99.   

Credit Suisse analyst Edward J. Kelly suggested that an acquisition of Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) by Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) would be a good fit. Shares of Rite Aid rose 17 cents to close at $2.05 while Walgreen stock edged up 12 cents to close at $33.37.

Endocyte Inc. (Nasdaq: ECYT) will apply for conditional marketing authorization with the European Union for its ovarian cancer treatments EC145 and EC20. Shares of the biopharmaceutical leaped $2.17 to close at $5.89.

LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI) cited strong sales for lifting its first quarter earnings and revenue guidance. The stock price rose 60 cents to close at $9.14.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) and MetLife Inc. (NYSE: MET) both failed the Federal Reserve's stress test. Shares of Citigroup fell $1.16 to $35.29 while MetLife stock tumbled $1.98 to $37.48. 

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) passed the Federal Reserve's stress test lifting the stock price 27 cents to $8.76.

Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) priced its offering of 152.9 million common shares at $5.90 per share to raise approximately $900 million to repurchase its preferred stock that were issued to the government under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The stock price rose 35 cents to $6.12. 

VimpelCom Ltd. (NYSE: VIP) blamed impairment charges for falling to a fourth quarter loss of 24 cents per share from income of 34 cents per share in the year ago period. Shares of the telecommunications services provider lost 52 cents to close at $11.30. 

MarketWest Energy Partners LP (NYSE: MWE) priced its public offering of 5.9 million common units at the discounted price of $59.54 per common unit. Shares of the natural gas company dropped $1.72 to close at $59.80.

Safe Bulkers Inc. (NYSE: SB) priced its public offering of 5 million common shares at the discounted price of $6.50 per share sending the stock price down 65 cents to close at $6.50.   

GNC Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNC) expects to report first quarter earnings ahead of expectations sending the stock price soaring $2.78 to $34.02.

Apollo Global Management LLC (NYSE: APO) will pay approximately $165 million in cash to acquire Great Wolf Resorts Inc. (Nasdaq: WOLF). Shares of Great Wolf climbed 98 cents to $5.17 while Apollo Group stock eased 9 cents to $14.18.

TBC Corp. will take Midas Inc. (NYSE: MDS) private for a premium of approximately $173 million in cash. Shares of the automotive services franchise soared $2.46 to $11.45. 

Wedbush downgraded Heckmann Corp. (NYSE: HEK) to an Underperform rating sending the stock price down 45 cents to close at $4.33.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ANTH) stopped a late stage clinical trial of its cardiovascular disease treatment varespladib because the drug was ineffective. Shares of the biopharmaceutical plummeted $2.86 to close at $3.56. 

Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CDTI) reversed year ago losses of $1.71 per diluted share to post a profit for the fourth quarter of 6 cents per diluted share as revenue surged. The stock price leaped $1.74 to close at $4.85.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) will supply South Korea's POSCO Energy with 120 megawatt fuel cell units. The stock price gained 20 cents to $1.70.

Tranzyme Inc.'s (Nasdaq: TZYM) experimental bowel medication ulimorelin failed a late stage clinical trial sending the stock price plummeting $2.17 to $2.93..   

Youku Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) will merge with rival Tudou Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: TUDO) in an all stock deal valued at approximately $1.1 billion. Shares of Youku leaped $5.70 to $30.71 while Tudou stock more than doubled by rocketing $22.53 to $37.92.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOR) reported sequentially lower sales of its multiple sclerosis treatment Acthar sending the stock price tumbling $2.25 to close at $35.84.   

Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche wrote yesterday that Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) will convert AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile users with its unlimited data plans. Shares of Sprint rose 18 cents to close at $2.78 while AT&T stock edge up 18 cents to close at $31.18.

Court appointed bankruptcy examiner Susheel Kirpalani said that Dynegy Inc. (NYSE: DYN) subsidiary Dynegy Holdings fraudulently transferred its coal division to shield its assets before filing for bankruptcy. The stock price plummeted 42 cents to close at $0.76.   

Heckmann Corp. (NYSE: HEK) will pay approximately $245 million in cash and stock to acquire Thermo Fluids. The stock price lost 47 cents to $4.82.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgraded Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (Nasdaq: GMCR) from a Buy to a Neutral rating. Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX) announced yesterday that it will introduce a single serve coffee machine in the fall. Shares of Green Mountain plummeted $9.73 to $52.67 while Starbucks stock climbed $1.60 to $51.97.  

Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) will pay approximately CA$1.3 billion to acquire Neo Materials Technologies sending the stock price soaring $3.24 to $29.22.

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) disappointed with lower than expected February same store sales. Shares of the fast food restaurant chain plunged $3.22 to close at $96.96.

The Treasury Department announced plans to sell approximately 206.9 million shares of  American International Group (NYSE: AIG) stock at $29 per share. The stock price dropped $1.14 to close at $28.31.

Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: THLD) narrowed fourth quarter losses more than expected to 11 cents per share from 19 cents per share in the year ago period sending the stock price soaring $1.39 to close at $6.15.

Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) announced the retirement of chief financial officer Sharon McCollam. Shares of the home products retailer dropped $1.84 to $36.00. 

Sequenom Inc. (Nasdaq: SQNM) reported a loss for the fourth quarter of 22 cents per share compared with a loss of 27 cents per share in the year ago period but revenue rose to lift the stock price 63 cents to $4.29. 

Shares of Provenge maker Dendreon Corp. (Nasdaq: DNDN) tumbled 93 cents to $9.95 after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported positive results from a late stage clinical trial of its prostate cancer treatment Zytiga. Johnson & Johnson stock gained 66 cents to $64.96.   

First Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) will cut production in Germany and Malaysia and postpone opening a Mesa, Arizona plant. Shares of the solar module company tumbled $1.83 to close at $25.80. 

InvenSense Inc. (NYSE: INVN) priced its follow-on offering of 6.5 million common shares at $14.85 per share lifting the stock price $1.54 to close at $16.60. 

Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) reassured investors that a Memphis refinery fire yesterday did not impact any production units. The stock price climbed $1.83 to close at $27.00. 

Raymond James downgraded Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) after the online music service reported that its fourth quarter loss widened more than expected yesterday. The stock price plummeted $3.46 to $10.81.  

Shares of Discovery Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO) continued climbing by gaining 69 cents to $4.44 after the Food and Drug Administration approved the biotechnology firm's premature infant respiratory distress syndrome prevention drug Surfaxin yesterday.

Nuance Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAN) will pay approximately $300 million in cash to acquire Transcend Services Inc. (Nasdaq: TRCR). Shares of Transcend leaped $8.28 to $29.25 while Nuance stock rose 88 cents to $26.38.

Robert W. Baird upgraded OmniVision Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI) to an Outperform rating over expectations that the company will provide camera technology for Apple Inc.'s (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad3. Shares of OmniVision climbed $1.33 to close at $17.16 while Apple stock fell $2.90 to close at $530.26.

The American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology Panel approved Vermillion Inc.'s (Nasdaq: VRML) Category 1 CPT code application for its OVA1 test to differentiate benign versus malignant ovarian masses. The stock price more than doubled by jumping $1.67 to close at $3.00.

VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) reported a loss for the first quarter of 3 cents per share compared with income of 35 cents per share in the year ago period but the results were better than expected and the company forecast full year results ahead of estimates. Shares of the electronic payment solutions company leaped $3.69 to close at $50.24.

Oncothyreon Inc. (Nasdaq: ONTY) widened fourth quarter losses more than expected to 27 cents per share from a loss of 20 cents per share a year earlier and warned of higher expenses in 2012. Shares of the biopharmaceutical plummeted $3.40 to $5.01.   

Monster Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: MWW) retained the services of Stone Key Partners and Bank of America Merrill Lynch to explore strategic alternatives. Shares of the online employment solutions firm gained 74 cents to $8.26.

XOMA Corp. (Nasdaq: XOMA) will raise approximately $39.2 million through a public offering of more than 29 million common shares lifting the stock price 34 cents to $1.79. 

On Friday, TheStreet listed Galena Biopharma Inc. (Nasdaq: GALE) as one of five stocks poised to break-out lifting the stock price 23 cents to close at $1.68. 

Analysts expect A123 Systems Inc. (NYSE: AONE) to post a loss for the fourth quarter on Thursday. The stock price fell 21 cents to close at $1.61.  

Shares of Sino Clean Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: SCEI) continued surging by adding 41 cents to close at $3.17 after an independent auditor reported last week that the company's financials were unlikely to have been misstated.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jordan Rohan upgraded Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) to a Buy rating lifting the stock price 75 cents to $14.65. 

Archipelago Learning Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCL) will be acquired by Plato Learning for approximately $291 million in cash. The stock price soared $1.98 to $11.02.

A Seeking Alpha article on Friday said that Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: KERX) and AEterna Zentarix Inc. (Nasdaq: AEZS) are expected to report upbeat results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of their cancer treatment Perifosine. Shares of Keryx leaped $1.21 to $4.91 while AEterna Zentaris stock climbed 37 cents to $2.12.

Shares of online review site Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP) surged on its first day of trading $9.58 to close at $24.58. 

Shutterfly Inc. (Nasdaq: SFLY) offered approximately $23.8 million to acquire Kodak's online photo services site Kodak Gallery. The stock price surged $4.45 to close at $31.36.

Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) will distribute approximately $4.55 billion in stock to its shareholders after spinning off its Coffee & Tea unit. The stock price climbed $1.39 to $21.78.

Concerns about Amarin Corp.'s (NYSE: AMRN) patent application rejected weighed down shares of the biopharmaceutical 88 cents to $7.89.   

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) selected Renren Inc.'s (NYSE: RENN) Renren HD as the first social networking application for its Windows 8 store. Shares of Renren gained 35 cents to $5.83 while Microsoft stock eased 19 cents to $32.10.  

McDermott International Inc. (NYSE: MDR) reported lower fourth quarter earnings of 4 cents per diluted share compared with 19 cents per diluted share in the year ago period but revenue soared.

Credit Suisse analyst Kulbinder Garcha reinstated coverage of Fusion-IO Inc. (NYSE: FIO) with an Outperform rating. The stock price soared $2.40 to close at $29.70.

Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) reversed year ago losses of 28 cents per share to post a profit for the fourth quarter of $1.91 per share lifting the stock price $1.32 to close at $11.10.

Chimera Investment Corp. (NYSE: CIM) will delay filing its quarterly report weighing the stock price down 16 cents to $2.91.  

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) reported a stronger than expected 4% gain in February same store sales sending the stock price up $1.82 to $25.18. 

Monster Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: MWW) will explore strategic alternatives to increase shareholder value lifting the stock price 79 cents to $7.73.