Stockwinners Market Radar for July 07, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:01 EDT Interactive Brokers opens Singapore office - Interactive Brokers announced the addition of a Singapore entity Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte Ltd and the opening of an office located in the Marina Bay Financial District. With the addition of Singapore, the global brokerage firm now has nine entities around the globe in the US, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Luxembourg and the UK, serving over 876,000 clients accounts in more than 220 countries and territories.

17:50 EDT SPDR Gold Shares holdings rise to 1,199.36MT from 1,191.47M - This is the highest level of holdings since April of 2013.

17:13 EDT Allied Integral reports 12.7% stake Superconductor Technologies - On July 6, Allied Integral United acquired 4,000,000 shares or 12.7% of the common stock in Superconductor Technologies in a private transaction. The filing was a 13D, and allows for activism.

17:03 EDT Party City regains compliance with the NYSE - Party City Holdco announced that it received written notification from the NYSE that it has regained compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards. As previously disclosed, on April 9 the Company received formal notice from the NYSE that it was not in compliance with the NYSE's continued listing standards as a result of the average closing price of the Company's common stock being less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.

16:51 EDT Levi Strauss down over 3% at $13.41 per share after Q2 results

16:35 EDT TechnipFMC signs over $1B EPC contract with ANOPC for hydrocracking complex - TechnipFMC has signed an over $1B engineering, procurement and construction, or EPC, contract with Assiut National Oil Processing Company, or ANOPC, for the construction of a new hydrocracking complex for the Assiut refinery in Egypt. This EPC contract covers new process units such as a vacuum distillation unit, a diesel hydrocracking unit, a delayed coker unit, a distillate hydrotreating unit as well as a hydrogen production facility unit using TechnipFMC's steam reforming proprietary technology. The project also includes other process units, interconnecting, offsites and utilities. The complex will transform lower-value petroleum products from Assiut Oil Refining Company's nearby refinery into approximately 2.8M tons per year of cleaner products, such as Euro 5 diesel. The company is working with ANOPC to complete the remaining conditions precedent to enable project work to commence. The company will include the contract award in its inbound when all the requirements are fulfilled.

16:31 EDT Schwab announces integration with Google - Schwab (SCHW) announced an integration with Google (GOOG), enabling Google Assistant users to easily and securely access certain Schwab account and portfolio updates across multiple devices through voice-enabled technology. To enable Schwab's Action on Google, Schwab clients are guided through a quick, simple configuration process. In just a few minutes, clients can follow on-screen prompts through the "Finance" section of Google Account settings where they will input Schwab credentials, consent, and choose accounts to link. The integration does not currently enable brokerage transactions. "We're committed to increasing access to investing for every client with a focus on making both investing and planning easier, more modern, and more approachable," says Zack Gipson, senior vice president, Schwab Digital Services. "Consumers today expect the brands they do business with to be available whenever and wherever needed, and how they invest should be no different."

16:20 EDT Atlas awarded $4M Richards Boulevard office complex project in California - Atlas Technical Consultants announced the company's subsidiary, Consolidated Engineering Laboratories, CEL, has been awarded a $4 million contract to provide geotechnical, materials testing & special inspections for the Richards Boulevard Office Complex in Sacramento, CA. The Company will provide all soils compaction testing, materials testing & special inspections services for four structural steel office buildings and a precast parking garage that will house 4,650 California state employees. "This is a great opportunity for Atlas and we are pleased to work with a valued partner of ours, the California Department of General Services, to deliver this project to the state," said Atlas COO, Gary Cappa. "This is yet another example of our Company's ability to connect the best experts in the industry to deliver the greatest value to our clients." The Richards Boulevard Office Complex is one of California's largest government buildings, at an estimated construction value of $1 billion. The complex features four high performance, collaborative and interconnected office buildings, with a rich amenities program calibrated for the needs of building occupants and a unique landscaping

16:17 EDT NextCure initiates Phase 1/2 study of NC410 for solid tumors - NextCure announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for NC410, a novel immunomedicine developed to block immune suppression mediated by an immune modulator called LAIR-1. The Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of this open-label trial is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of NC410 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors and determine its pharmacologically active and/or maximum tolerated dose. After a recommended dose for the Phase 2 portion of the trial is determined, the efficacy of NC410 will be evaluated in select tumor types. "We are pleased to initiate this first clinical trial of NC410, our second product candidate to reach the clinic, after a brief delay announced in April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a significant step in building our pipeline of next-generation immunomedicines to treat cancer," said Michael Richman, NextCure's president and chief executive officer. "We are the first company to target the LAIR protein family in the clinic. NC410 is a biomimic of LAIR-2, a naturally occurring immune regulatory protein. We look forward to continuing development of both NC318 and NC410, as well as advancing our preclinical pipeline."

16:11 EDT Arcus Biosciences names Bob Goeltz CFO - Arcus Biosciences (RCUS) announced that Bob Goeltz will join Arcus as Chief Financial Officer on August 1, 2020. Goeltz most recently served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of UNITY Biotechnology (UBX) and immediately before that as Chief Financial Officer of CytomX Therapeutics (CTMX). "Following the recent announcement of our 10-year collaboration with Gilead (GILD) and successful $348 million financial offering, combined with our growing portfolio of programs, I am confident Bob will play an integral role in advancing Arcus through our next phase of growth towards commercialization and beyond," said Terry Rosen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Arcus. "Bob's experience in navigating the strategic and operational decisions necessary to transition the opportunities derived from an intense, deep and innovative R&D effort through the commercialization process to broadly benefit patients will be central to Arcus's future success. With the potential to have three molecules in registrational studies in 2021, a prolific discovery team and a uniquely enabling and nascent alliance with Gilead, Bob joins Arcus at a seminal inflection point, with the opportunity to make Arcus's vision of creating, developing and commercializing innovative and curative therapies for cancer a reality."

16:09 EDT DocuSign acquires Austin-based startup, Liveoak Technologies, for $38M in stock - DocuSign announced its acquisition of Austin-based startup, Liveoak Technologies, for $38M in an all-stock transaction. The news builds on the companies' existing partnership, where DocuSign eSignature is integrated with Liveoak's secure agreement-collaboration platform. Liveoak uses web-based videoconferencing, rich collaboration features, identity verification and other tools to help complete an auditable transaction remotely-and it counts some of the world's largest financial institutions as customers. As part of today's news, DocuSign will continue to offer Liveoak's platform for remotely completing other "assisted agreements"-such as account openings or virtual inspections-that require in-person facilitation and an audit trail.

16:09 EDT Levi Strauss to be adversely impacted for 'at least' balance of 2020 - The company says: "Currently, roughly 90 percent of company-operated doors and franchisee doors have reopened globally, as well as the majority of third-party retail locations. While traffic and sales remain down to prior year, weekly sales performance in company-operated doors is sequentially improving, as store sales productivity in the final week of June as compared to prior year approached 80 percent, with nearly 40 percent of open company-operated store locations delivering positive net revenues growth compared to the same week in the prior year. As store locations have reopened, the company's e-commerce net revenues growth has remained strong, at nearly 70 percent growth for the month of June as compared to the same month in the prior year. Cash flow trends are also improving, as net cash flows from operations were positive in June. Although trends appear to be improving sequentially, the ultimate health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly uncertain. The company expects that its business and results of operations, including net revenues, earnings and cash flows, will continue to be significantly adversely impacted for at least the balance of 2020, and there remains the possibility of additional COVID-19 related inventory and other charges."

16:09 EDT Kroger appoints Stuart Aitken as Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer - The Kroger announced the retirement of Joe Grieshaber, senior vice president and chief merchant, after more than 37 years of distinguished service, effective August 15. Grieshaber will be succeeded by Stuart W. Aitken, currently senior vice president of alternative business and CEO of 84.51, Kroger's data analytics subsidiary. Yael Cosset, senior vice president and chief information officer, will assume responsibility for alternative business and 84.51. Grieshaber started his career with Kroger in 1983 as a store management trainee in Nashville, Tenn. Aitken, currently senior vice president of alternative business and CEO of 84.51, will succeed Grieshaber, effective August 1. As chief merchant and marketing officer, Aitken will be responsible for sales, pricing, planning, promotions, execution, analytics, ecommerce and digital merchandising, and Our Brands. He will also retain responsibility for marketing. Aitken was named a group vice president five years ago and has led 84.51 as CEO since its inception in 2015. As the leader of 84.51 degrees, Aitken played a critical role in integrating data-based decision making into Kroger's merchandising organization. 84.51 degrees combines customer data, predictive analytics and marketing strategies to drive business decisions, sales growth and customer loyalty using a sophisticated, proprietary suite of tools for Kroger and more than 300 consumer-packaged-goods companies in the U.S.

16:07 EDT RTW Retailwinds suspends trading on NYSE - RTW Retailwinds announced that on July 6, 2020, the company received confirmation that the New York Stock Exchange will apply to the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the company's common stock upon completion of all applicable procedures, including any appeal by the company of the decision. Trading of the company's common stock on the NYSE was suspended on July 6, 2020. The company does not intend to appeal the decision. As a result, the company's trading of its common stock commenced on July 7, 2020 on the OTC Pink, under the symbol "RTWI." The company's transition to the OTC Pink does not affect the company's business operations, nor does it trigger any violation of its asset-based credit facility or other obligations.

16:06 EDT Levi Strauss to cut workforce by 15% - CEO Chip Bergh says: "We started the year with strong momentum, but the global pandemic and economic crises had a significantly negative impact on our second quarter results, as our stores and most wholesale doors were closed around the world for the majority of the quarter. I'm proud of how the team stepped up in response, accelerating our activation of key e-commerce and omni-channel capabilities, proactively cutting costs and managing cash smartly, and finding innovative ways to connect the Levi's brand with its fan. As part of our response, to enable us to become a leaner and more market-responsive organization, as well as give us greater confidence in our cost structure given the uncertainties around the impact of the virus, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our non-retail, non-manufacturing workforce by about 700 positions, or roughly 15 percent, which we expect will generate annualized savings of $100 million. The pandemic is accelerating retail landscape shifts and consumer behavior in ways that play to the strength of the Levi's brand. And we are doubling down on our digital transformation, incorporating the power of AI and data science, and leveraging our iconic brands to have an even stronger focus on Gen Z and sustainability. We believe this will enable us to further grow our market leadership position and emerge from this crisis a stronger company."

16:06 EDT Royal Gold says RGLD Gold AG sold 51K gold equivalent ounces in Q4 - Royal Gold annunced that its wholly owned subsidiary, RGLD Gold AG, sold approximately 51,000 gold equivalent ounces comprised of approximately 44,000 gold ounces, 450,000 silver ounces and 800 tonnes of copper related to its streaming agreements during its fiscal 2020 fourth quarter ended June 30, 2020. Fourth quarter stream sales were in line with the previous guidance range of 50,000 to 55,000 gold equivalent ounces. The Company had approximately 25,000 gold equivalent ounces in inventory at the end of the fourth quarter consisting of 19,000 gold ounces, 475,000 silver ounces and 300 tonnes of copper. Inventory at the end of the fourth quarter was higher than the previous guidance range of 18,000 to 23,000 gold equivalent ounces primarily due to timing of deliveries. RGLD Gold AG's average realized gold, silver and copper prices for the fourth quarter were $1,686 per ounce, $15.77 per ounce, and $5,235 per tonne ($2.37 per pound), respectively, compared to $1,569, $17.79, and $5,493 ($2.49), respectively, in the prior quarter ended March 31, 2020 ("third quarter"). Cost of sales was approximately $406 per gold equivalent ounce for the fourth quarter using the quarterly average silver-gold ratio of approximately 104 to 1 and copper-gold ratio of approximately 0.32 tonnes per ounce, compared to cost of sales of $355 per gold equivalent ounce in the third quarter. Cost of sales is specific to our streaming agreements and is the result of the Company's purchase of gold, silver or copper for cash payments at a set contractual price, or a percentage of the prevailing market price of gold, silver or copper when purchased.

16:04 EDT Sunesis to reduce workforce by approximately 30% - Sunesis announced a reduction in workforce of approximately 30% of its head count to focus on development of its PDK1 inhibitor SNS-510. The reduction in workforce is to right size the company to achieve its objectives and preserve cash resources. The reduction in workforce is expected to be completed during the current quarter and will provide the company sufficient cash to fund its operations into Q2 of 2021. The company also plans to review strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value that can include asset in-licensing, partnering, acquisitions and mergers. There can be no assurance that the strategic review will result in any transaction or other outcome. The company does not currently intend to publicly discuss or disclose further developments of the strategic review unless and until its board has approved a transaction or otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate. "The changes we are undertaking will extend our cash runway and provide us with the necessary resources to execute on our PDK1 program, while also allowing the flexibility to explore opportunities for additional value creation," said Dayton Misfeldt, interim CEO of Sunesis. "We thank our affected employees for their contributions and wish them success in their future endeavors."

14:50 EDT Philip Morris CEO calls FDA decision on IQOS 'historic public health milestone' - As previously reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of IQOS, Philip Morris International's electrically heated tobacco system, as a modified risk tobacco product, or MRTP. Commenting on the FDA's announcement, Andre Calantzopoulos, PMI's CEO, said: "The FDA's decision is a historic public health milestone. Many of the tens of millions of American men and women who smoke today will quit-but many won't. Today's decision makes it possible to inform these adults that switching completely to IQOS is a better choice than continuing to smoke. FDA determined that scientific studies show that switching completely from conventional cigarettes to IQOS reduces exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals. IQOS is a fundamentally different product than combustible cigarettes and must be regulated differently, as the FDA has recognized. Now-more than ever-there is an urgent need for a fundamentally different conversation on a cooperative approach to achieve a smoke-free future... As of March 31, 2020, PMI estimates that approximately 10.6 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to IQOS. We believe that this decision can help to further accelerate the transition of U.S. adults away from cigarettes. We, along with our licensee Altria, are committed to guarding against unintended use and fully support FDA's focus on protecting youth. Today's decision is a result of our ongoing commitment to put science at the forefront as we continue on our quest to replace cigarettes with smoke-free alternatives as quickly as possible. We look forward to working with the FDA to provide any additional information they may require in order to market IQOS with reduced risk claims."

14:44 EDT Chevron, Clean Energy partner over Adopt-a-Port initiative to cut emissions - Chevron (CVX) announced that it is partnering with California natural gas retailer Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) on Adopt-a-Port, an initiative that provides truck operators serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with cleaner, carbon-negative renewable natural gas to reduce emissions. For its part, Chevron will provide funding for Adopt-a-Port and supply RNG to Clean Energy stations near the ports. Chevron's funding will allow truck operators to subsidize the cost of buying new RNG-powered trucks. Clean Energy, meanwhile, will manage the program, including offering fueling services for qualified truck operators. Truck operators participating in the program, which supports the ports' Clean Trucks Program and Clean Air Action Plan, agree to fuel up at the Clean Energy stations supplied with Chevron RNG. Truck operators and their import and export customers will help local communities by reducing smog-forming NOx emissions by 98 percent compared to diesel trucks while also eliminating climate pollutants. Reference Link

13:44 EDT Grupo Simec says not aware of causes of unusual movements in shares - Regarding the unusual movements today in the operation identified with ticker symbol "SIMEC" values, Grupo Simec S.A.B.de C.V. reports "there are not causes, to our knowledge, that could give rise to them and that they correspond to conditions of the market." The company added that Grupo Simec "is not aware of any changes, presented in the movements, that involved members of its board of directors, executive officers or repurchase of funds."

13:34 EDT Aegion awarded $6M contract to rehabilitate large wasterwater pipelines - Aegion Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Insituform Technologies, LLC, has been awarded a mainline sewer rehabilitation contract valued at $6M in East Richland County, South Carolina. Insituform will rehabilitate more than 8,900 linear feet of sewer pipelines using 54-inch, cured-in-place pipe. Crews will also perform cleaning and closed-circuit TV activities, manhole rehabilitation, service lateral lining and bypass pumping. Other elements of the project will include several "over-the-hole" CIPP installations, as well as erosion control and restoration of grasses around a private golf course and temporary construction entrances. The value of this large-diameter pipeline rehabilitation project is one of the highest that has bid in South Carolina in recent years.

12:52 EDT Wirecard spikes higher after Reuters report on interested investors - Shares of of Wirecard jumped as high as $2.16 earlier in the session, but have retreated to $1.60 per share up 25% after the firm's administrator on Tuesday "that more than 100 investors have expressed interest in buying the company's core business and its holdings," Reuters reported. "The aim is to find timely investor solutions in the interest of creditors, employees and customers," Michael Jaffe said in a statement after a meeting of creditors, according to the Reuters report. Reference Link

12:31 EDT Snap jumps after Pompeo says U.S. 'looking at' TikTok ban - Shares of Snap (SNAP) are moving higher on Tuesday afternoon following reports that the U.S. is considering banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps. U.S. LOOKING AT BANNING TIKTOK, OTHERS: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News' Laura Ingraham that the U.S. is "looking at" banning social media apps, adding that "we're taking this very seriously." Pompeo was asked by Ingraham whether the U.S. would consider a ban on the social media apps, particularly TikTok," and commented that "With respect to Chinese apps on people's cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Laura." Pompeo added that "I don't want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it's something we're looking at." Pompeo further told Ingraham that TikTok should only be downloaded "if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party." TIKTOK RESPONSE: In a statement following Pompeo's comments, a TikTok spokesperson commented that "TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the U.S. We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked." WHAT'S NOTABLE: Pompeo's comments come during a time of increased tensions between the U.S. and China. ByteDance-owned TikTok has previously been criticized by U.S. politicians who believe it to be a threat to national security due to its ties with China and claim it could be compelled to "support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party." TikTok has said that it operates separately from Beijing-based ByteDance and that its data centers are located outside of China. SNAP SHARES HIGHER: Shares of Snapchat parent Snap are up over 8% to $25.38 in early afternoon trading.

12:16 EDT Werner expands Final Mile offering into Canada - Werner Enterprises announces the expansion of Werner Final Mile to Canada, providing nationwide delivery and related services to residential and business locations in all provinces and territories. Utilizing our network of strategic alliance agents, Werner Final Mile delivers large or heavy items using two uniformed associates operating a liftgate straight truck, enabling customers to ship non-conveyable products, including returns and exchanges, in both the U.S. and Canada. "We are very pleased to announce the extension of the Werner Final Mile network to serve our clients across North America," explains Craig Stoffel, Vice President of Global Logistics and Final Mile, Werner Enterprises.

12:05 EDT ViacomCBS' Nickelodeon inks multiplatform deal with James Corden, Ben Winston - Nickelodeon has struck a multiplatform deal with James Corden and Ben Winston, and their production company Fulwell 73, to produce an animated movie and TV series, based on the recently released children's book title, Real Pigeons Fight Crime. The movie and TV series are being developed to air on all Nickelodeon platforms. The forthcoming Real Pigeons Fight Crime animated project is the latest addition to Nickelodeon's programming, joining the recently greenlit Big Nate series as well as franchises like Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Henry Danger, among others.

12:00 EDT MaxLinear rises 15.7% - MaxLinear is up 15.7%, or $3.44 to $25.32.

11:53 EDT Air Liquide in supply pact with Steel Dynamics for EAF in Sinton, Texas - Air Liquide (AIQUY) has signed a long-term agreement with Steel Dynamics (STLD) to supply gaseous oxygen, nitrogen, and argon to SDI's new Electric Arc Furnace, EAF, steel mill in Sinton, Texas. To support the new agreement, Air Liquide plans to invest over 100 million U.S. dollars to install an Air Separation Unit, ASU, on its Gulf Coast pipeline network in Ingleside, Texas, and extend its pipeline network to SDI's site

11:37 EDT RealNetworks up 22% following Japanese post on 'corona countermeasures' - Shares of RealNetworks are up 30c, or 22.4%, to $1.64 in morning trading. The early strength in the share may be attributable to a Japanese language post, dated July 7, regarding the use of the "world's highest level AI face recognition engine 'SAFR,' which will be provided by Komatsu Denki Sangyo Co. Ltd. on September 1." According to a translation of the post, Noriaki Takamura, Vice President, Asia Pacific Region, Real Networks, commented: "We are cooperating with AI Face Recognition 'SAFR' on NTT Docomo's DoCoMo Open Innovation Cloud. We are very pleased to have been adopted for the seat shutter 'happy gate gatekeeper face recognition entry management system'. We believe that face recognition will increase in demand as an effective technology for corona countermeasures in factories and medical settings, such as demanding touchless hygienic infrastructure in the market and encouraging people to wear masks. I am confident that will help solve market problems." Reference Link

11:12 EDT FDA authorizes IQOS marketing with 'reduced exposure' information - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of Philip Morris Products' "IQOS Tobacco Heating System" as modified risk tobacco products, or "MRTPs." The FDA said: "This marks the second set of products ever to be authorized as MRTPs and the first tobacco products to receive 'exposure modification' orders, which permits the marketing of a product as containing a reduced level of or presenting a reduced exposure to a substance or as being free of a substance when the issuance of the order is expected to benefit the health of the population. Importantly, the authorization for these products requires the company to conduct postmarket surveillance and studies to determine whether the MRTP orders continues to be appropriate, including assessing the potential for increased use among youth...These requirements are in addition to the postmarket requirements and restrictions previously placed on these products in their April 2019 PMTA authorizations, such as reporting information to the FDA about consumer research studies, sales and advertising information and adverse experiences, among others. In particular, to limit youth access to the products and to limit youth exposure to IQOS advertising and promotion, the PMTA authorization placed stringent restrictions on how the products are marketed - particularly via websites and through social media platforms - by including requirements that advertising be targeted to adults of legal age to purchase tobacco products." Reference Link

10:31 EDT Amazon announces fulfillment center, delivery station in Little Rock - Amazon announced plans to open its first fulfillment center in Little Rock, Arkansas. The new fulfillment center, which is anticipated to launch in 2021, will create over 1,000 new full-time jobs. The City of Little Rock's Board of Directors gave final approval for a sale of 80 acres at the Port of Little Rock to Amazon.com, Inc. during its meeting on April 7, 2020. This after the Little Rock Port Authority Board of Directors made a similar approval at their specially called meeting earlier that day. The acquisition gives the company exclusive control for the development of the Zeuber Road site. "We're delighted to be building out our network of operations in Little Rock, Arkansas," said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon's vice president of global customer fulfillment. "We greatly appreciate the strong support from local and state leaders as we look to open our first fulfillment center and second delivery station in the state of Arkansas. We look forward to creating over a thousand jobs for the Little Rock community, with industry leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one." In the new 825,000 square-foot fulfillment center, Amazon employees will work alongside Amazon robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and toys. Amazon is also planning a new 85,000 square-foot delivery station which is anticipated to launch in late 2020.

10:18 EDT Gap launches B2B sales for organizations to pruchase cloth face masks - Gap Inc. announced earlier that it has launched a B2B product program focused on offering large organizations reusable, non-medical grade cloth face masks to supply to their employees as they welcome them back to work. To date, Gap Inc.'s recently-launched B2B face mask program has sold approximately 10 million non-medical grade face masks to employers, including the City of New York, the State of California, Kaiser Permanente and a leading consulting firm. "In the face of this pandemic, the Gap Inc. team was able to quickly respond to a customer need for masks. Since then, we've sold millions of non-medical grade masks to customers across our brands," said John Strain, Head of e-commerce and Technology at Gap Inc. "We quickly started hearing from companies like ours who wanted to be able to supply their employees with the same product, so we're excited to extend our high-quality reusable, non-medical grade cloth face mask offering to organizations that want to help protect their employees as they re-enter the workforce."

10:17 EDT Daqo New Energy falls -9.6% - Daqo New Energy is down -9.6%, or -$9.36 to $87.81.

10:17 EDT MaxLinear rises 10.0% - MaxLinear is up 10.0%, or $2.19 to $24.07.

10:09 EDT Staff of Indiana Horse Racing Commission do not recommend approving Caesars deal - A staff report of the executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission regarding Eldorado Resorts' petition to acquire the IHRC permits and licenses of Caesars Entertainment (CZR) states in its summary: "In short, it is impossible for Commission Staff to offer its enthusiastic or unqualified recommendation for the approval of ERI's permit application." The report adds that "should the Commission determine that approval of ERI's application is in the best interest of racing," that the commission staff recommends a set of conditions be placed on the licenses. Reference Link

09:47 EDT MaxLinear rises 9.7% - MaxLinear is up 9.7%, or $2.13 to $24.01.

09:47 EDT Vivint Solar rises 23.1% - Vivint Solar is up 23.1%, or $2.46 to $13.09.

09:29 EDT Getinge receives FDA 510(k) clearance for Servo-air mechanical ventilator - U.S. FDA clears Servo-air mechanical ventilator for use with adult and pediatric patients dependent on intensive care ventilation expanding upon the Servo family of products available in the United States for decades. Servo-air is expected to be available in the U.S. in late 2020.

09:24 EDT Pegasystems selected by IRS - Pegasystems announced the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has selected Pega to help modernize agency-wide operations. The IRS will use Pega Government Platform and Pega Customer Service for a new Enterprise Case Management, or ECM, system to speed case resolution and reduce costs. The IRS, which processes hundreds of millions of U.S. tax returns and other forms, recently embarked on a large scale, agency-wide modernization project. Part of this project includes the implementation of an enterprise-wide case management system to unify existing technologies into a single platform for the benefit of taxpayers, employees, and the organization.

09:20 EDT Medtronic receives FDA, CE Mark approval for Linq II ICM - Medtronic announced it has received FDA clearance and CE Mark approval for its Linq II insertable cardiac monitor, or ICM, with remote programming, which enables clinicians to optimize device settings without the need for patients to return to the office or hospital. The company said the Linq II system also delivers improved device longevity compared to other ICMs and enhanced accuracy to correctly detect abnormal heart rhythms, simplifying the diagnosis and monitoring of patients. Linq II is a small, wireless ICM for patients with abnormal heart rhythms who experience infrequent symptoms including dizziness, palpitations, syncope and chest pain, thereby requiring long-term monitoring or ongoing management. The device will be commercially available in the U.S. and Europe later this summer.

09:18 EDT Comedy Central signs deal with John Mulaney to make 2 new specials - Comedy Central (VIAC, VIACA) announced a deal with two-time Emmy winning comedian John Mulaney. Comedy Central said in a release, "Mulaney will headline and executive produce two original "Sack Lunch Bunch" specials, including an upcoming holiday-themed one that will reunite the cast from the original hit. The pact marks Mulaney's return to Comedy Central where he last did a special in 2012. Mulaney has been nominated for 16 Emmys and is a two-time winner."

09:16 EDT CohBar resumes clinical trial of CB4211 - CohBar announced that it has resumed the Phase 1b stage of its Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of CB4211, its lead candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and obesity. In March, the company announced the temporary pause of the clinical study in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the clinical trial was paused, the study sites had continued to identify potential subjects. With the resumption of the trial, the clinical sites have resumed the process of screening and enrollment of subjects that meet the appropriate criteria.

09:12 EDT Canadian National to invest C$105M across Manitoba - Canadian National announced that, as part of its strategic investments to support growing demand and enable supply chains, it plans to invest over C$105M across Manitoba. The investments will focus on maintenance including the replacement of rail and ties, as well as bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

09:09 EDT Editas Medicine, Azzur COD announce agreement for cGMP-compliant cleanroom space - Editas Medicine and Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand, or COD, an Azzur Group company, announced the companies have entered a multi-year agreement for current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP-compliant cleanroom space for Editas Medicine in Azzur's Waltham site. Editas Medicine will utilize the space and Azzur's services to execute pre-clinical and early-phase clinical manufacturing activities for its cell medicines, including EDIT-301 in development for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia and EDIT-201, a healthy donor natural killer cell medicine, in development for solid tumor cancers.

09:08 EDT Reinsurance Group to sell Leidsche to De Goudse, terms not disclosed - Reinsurance Group of America announced that it has agreed to sell its Dutch life insurance company, Leidsche Verzekering Maatschappij N.V., to De Goudse N.V. Leidsche has liabilities of approximately $0.5B at year end 2019. In accordance with the agreement, terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

09:07 EDT OptimizeRx receives $3.6M in SaaS-based engagements - OptimizeRx has secured two new SaaS-based enterprise-level engagements that provide the full spectrum of access to the company's nationwide digital healthcare platform. One win represents a new platform client and the other the transition of a legacy client to the company's new enterprise solution suite. The two deals have on average an annual contract value of $3.6M.

09:04 EDT Qualys appoints Ben Carr as Chief Information Security Officer - Qualys announced the appointment of Ben Carr as Chief Information Security Officer, or CISO. Ben is responsible for providing cybersecurity guidance and security strategies to Qualys customers, leading the CIO/CISO Interchange, developed in partnership with the Cloud Security Alliance, and securing Qualys as he leads the internal risk and security efforts to reduce the companies risk and security exposure while ensuring compliance across the world. Carr is a proven information security and risk executive and thought leader with more than 25 years of experience in executing long-term security strategies. Most recently, Ben was the CISO of Aristocrat, a global games leader, and before that, he held executive strategic leadership roles at Cyberbit and Tenable. From 2012 to 2016, he was the senior director of Global Information Security for Visa, where he developed and led Visa's global Attack Surface Management team and capability. Earlier in his career, he led all security programs for Nokia corporate IT as the Global Head of IT Security.

09:02 EDT Editas Medicine and Azzur announce agreement - Editas Medicine and Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand, an Azzur Group company, announced the companies have entered a multi-year agreement for current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP,-compliant cleanroom space for Editas Medicine in Azzur's Waltham site. Editas Medicine will utilize the space and Azzur's services to execute pre-clinical and early-phase clinical manufacturing activities for its cell medicines, including EDIT-301 in development for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia and EDIT-201, a healthy donor natural killer, or HDNK, cell medicine, in development for solid tumor cancers.

08:52 EDT LiveXLive Media announces deal with Source Digital - LiveXLive Media announced that it has entered into a multi-year deal with Source Digital to bring cutting edge contextual commerce and advertising strategies to market during live stream performances. The companies will create industry-first experiences typically only previously available through Google, allowing viewers access to a richer, more personalized level of information about each performance at any moment of the content.

08:49 EDT Colony Capital forms strategic partnership with Vantage Data Centers - Vantage Data Centers and an investor group led by Colony Capital announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to form a strategic partnership valued at $3.5 billion to accelerate the expansion of Vantage's wholesale data centers throughout North America and Europe. The companies said in a release, "As part of the agreement, the Colony-led investor group will invest $1.2 billion in Vantage's diversified portfolio, including 12 stabilized North American data centers, which span more than 1.4 million gross square feet and 150MW of IT capacity across key strategic markets in Santa Clara, California; Quincy, Washington; Montreal and Quebec City, Canada. Vantage's management team, led by Sureel Choksi, president and CEO, will continue to manage and operate these assets as part of its global data center footprint. Vantage will maintain the same level of superior service to its valued customers in each market, while simultaneously developing and operating additional data centers throughout North America and Europe. The capital provided by this transaction will support Vantage's strategy to expand and enhance its global footprint. The strategic partnership also marks a significant milestone in Colony's ongoing digital transformation, with $200 million of the investment coming from Colony's balance sheet, underscoring its commitment to investing in and acquiring world-class, stabilized digital infrastructure assets that deliver consistent returns for Colony shareholders. The partnership is expected to be finalized in late July. Citi served as financial advisor to Vantage Data Centers."

08:45 EDT ARCA Biopharma announces publication of SARS-CoV-2 related paper - The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and ARCA Biopharma announced that the paper entitled "Dynamic Regulation of SARS-CoV-2 Binding and Cell Entry Mechanisms in Remodeled Human Ventricular Myocardium" was published in JACC: Basic to Translational Science, a member of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, or JACC, family of journals. The paper provides new information on mechanisms involved in host cell binding and entry of the SARS-CoV-2 in the human heart. Investigators affiliated with the Bristow Laboratory at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Cardiovascular Institute at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and ARCA biopharma determined how known and potential mechanisms responsible for COVID-19 infection in the intact heart are altered by prior heart muscle disease, and to what extent they are changed when damaged heart muscle improves through a process called reverse remodeling. COVID-19 infection occurs when SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by binding to receptor sites on cell surface membranes, then merging its viral membrane with host cell surface and intracellular membranes to facilitate internalization and finally taking control over host cell RNA synthesis to replicate virus. When heart muscle is damaged, enlarges and weakens, various myocardial cell constituents change their expression, including some that may participate in CoV-2 host cell binding and internalization. Foremost of those that have been previously identified is angiotensin converting enzyme-2, or ACE2, which based on work performed in the Bristow Laboratory, was first reported to be increased at the protein and enzyme activity levels in explanted remodeled human hearts in 2003. Shortly thereafter, ACE2 was reported by others to be the receptor for SARS-CoV binding to host cells and recently, ACE2 was identified as the receptor for SARS-CoV-2 cell binding. However, it was not known if ACE2 upregulation in remodeled explanted hearts was due to heart failure medications that can affect ACE2 expression or was only found in late stage heart failure and remodeling present in hearts obtained from cardiac transplant recipients. Moreover, mechanisms or constituents other than ACE2 that could participate in CoV2 host cell binding and internalization had not been previously investigated in remodeled human left ventricles, or LVs. In the JBTS reported study, 46 patients with mild-moderate heart failure and remodeling from nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and nonfailing, non-remodeled controls had RNA extracted from interventricular septum endomyocardial biopsies. From the extracted RNA, genes known to participate in CoV-2 host cell binding and cell entry or who were possible candidates for these processes had mRNA expression measured by two independent platforms. The 46 dilated cardiomyopathy patients were then treated for 12 months with beta-blocking agents to produce reverse remodeling, measured by improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, or LVEF, which occurred in 65% of the patients. Gene expression in patients with reverse remodeling was then compared to the 35% of patients whose LVEFs/remodeling did not change. Importantly, the dilated cardiomyopathy patients were being treated with inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system prior to baseline measurements and throughout the study, eliminating the possibility that such therapy could have affected ACE2 expression. At baseline, ACE2 myocardial mRNA expression was markedly upregulated in the dilated cardiomyopathy patients, by nearly two-fold. With reverse remodeling, ACE2 gene expression normalized, and was unchanged in those with no remodeling improvement. The behavior of ACE2 as well as the degree of baseline expression was highly correlated with that of the natriuretic peptide B gene, whose processed protein product BNP is considered the gold standard biomarker for heart failure and remodeling. These data indicate that the increased expression of ACE2 begins much earlier than in end stage heart failure, that it is directly related to the remodeling process and not to the administration of heart failure therapy, and that by virtue of its potential for increasing the amount of virus internalization into host cells including cardiac myocytes, it is a likely a contributor to the increased adverse outcomes of patients with underlying heart disease who have COVID-19 infection. ACE2 is a "protective" or counter-regulatory enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin-II to angiotensin, a peptide that mitigates abnormal cell growth, blood vessel constriction and thrombosis mediated by angiotensin-II, which is known to be elevated in COVID-19 patients with clinically significant disease. However, the increased expression of ACE2 in the remodeled heart means that its beneficial effects may also predispose to increased cell infection by CoV-2. Based on these observations, the paper concludes that an optimal ACE2 targeted treatment for COVID-19 would consist of an agent that blocks CoV-2 binding without diminishing or perhaps even increasing ACE2 enzyme activity.

08:43 EDT Shake Shack confirms it has restarted domestic Shack development - The Company confirmed it has restarted domestic Shack development. After opening four company-operated Shacks in the first quarter before the full onset of the pandemic, the Company has recently opened an additional four Shacks across the country. The Company has an identified pipeline of leases in negotiationfor continued growth in 2021 and beyond, and believes additional and improved development opportunities may be available over time due to the impact of COVID-19 on the overall retail and real estate environment.

08:43 EDT Shake Shack confirms it has restarte domestic Shack development - The Company confirmed it has restarted domestic Shack development. After opening four company-operated Shacks in the first quarter before the full onset of the pandemic, the Company has recently opened an additional four Shacks across the country. The Company has an identified pipeline of leases in negotiation for continued growth in 2021 and beyond, and believes additional and improved development opportunities may be available over time due to the impact of COVID-19 on the overall retail and real estate environment.

08:41 EDT Shake Shack reports same-Shack sales for week ended July 1 down 39% - Same-Shack sales for the most recent week ended July 1 were down (39%), with the overall speed of company-wide sales recovery remaining uncertain due to ongoing volatility related to COVID-19. In addition, same-Shack sales remain acutely impacted by New York City, one of the Company's largest regions with some of the highest volume Shacks, which is expected to take a longer period of time to fully recover than other parts of the country. For the most recent fiscal week ended July 1, New York City same-Shack sales were down (58%) versus the prior year, and with this region accounting for approximately 20% of the Company's total Shack sales in the first quarter prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, it will continue to have a notable impact on total Company sales performance until there is a material recovery.

08:37 EDT Cerus reports successful inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 with INTERCEPT Blood System - Cerus announced study results demonstrating that the INTERCEPT Blood System inactivates SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, in plasma components intended for transfusion. Cerus said in a release, "These data are consistent with prior INTERCEPT studies showing complete inactivation, to below the limit of detection, of other coronaviruses associated with severe pulmonary disease: MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1. The in vitro study evaluated inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in plasma components using both infection and molecular assays, as well as cell culture passaging experiments, allowing the confirmation of complete inactivation over time. Under the Principal Investigators Prof. Esam Ibraheem Azhar and Prof. Salwa Hindawi, the study was conducted at the Special Infectious Agents Unit - BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a local clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolate. This center is known for its expertise in coronavirus research. A manuscript for publication is currently in preparation. The investigators are currently conducting a subsequent study to assess the ability of the INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in platelet components. These studies are funded by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health and supported by Cerus."

08:34 EDT Impinj promotes Jeff Dossett to Chief Revenue Officer - Impinj announced the appointment of Jeff Dossett to Chief Revenue Officer. Impinj said in a release, "In this role, Dossett oversees Impinj's global go-to-market organization including sales, marketing, partner development, product management, and customer support. Dossett joined Impinj in May 2017 and most recently served as the company's executive vice president of sales and marketing."

08:33 EDT Canadian Pacific announces best-ever quarter for moving grain and grain products - Canadian Pacific announced its best-ever quarter and June for moving Canadian grain and grain products. The two records are the latest in a standout crop year of linking Canadian producers to worldwide markets. There are two records. First one is that in Q2, CP moved 8.41M metric tonnes, or MMT, of Canadian grain and grain products. This broke the previous record of 7.9 MMT in the Q4 of 2019. Second, in June CP moved 2.76 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products. This broke the previous June record of 2.4 MMT set in 2014. CP has consistently delivered for Canadian farmers since the start of the 2019-2020 crop year amid high demand for transportation services. CP's strong fall and winter performance established momentum going into spring. By March 31, CP was 6% ahead of where it was at the same point in the record-setting 2018-2019 crop year, and has continued to build on that momentum. Crop-year volumes to date are now 8.8% ahead of last year's pace.

08:31 EDT Viveve announces FDA approval to conduct PURSUIT trial - Viveve Medical announced that the Company has received approval of its Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE, from the FDA to begin a stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial entitled PURSUIT - Prospective U.S. Radiofrequency SUI Trial. Viveve said in a release, "The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Viveve's Cryogen-cooled Monopolar Radiofrequency, or CMRF, treatment versus an inert sham tip for the improvement of SUI in women. In April VIVEVE announced resubmission of the SUI IDE to the FDA to conduct the PURSUIT Trial. In May, the FDA outlined several study considerations that were successfully addressed in an IDE Supplement that VIVEVE submitted to the FDA on June 1."

08:29 EDT Aspen Group announces affiliation partnership with A-APN - Aspen Group announced an affiliation partnership with American-Advanced Practice Network, or A-APN, a national clinical network for advanced practice nurses that provides health care and nursing services at its outpatient centers and clinical facilities throughout the U.S. A-APN offers independent nurse practitioners, or NPs, a multi-state network or "group practice without walls" with technology and business support.

08:23 EDT Outlook Therapeutics completes patient enrollment in ONS-5010 trial - Outlook Therapeutics announced the completion of patient enrollment in its NORSE 2 clinical trial for ONS-5010, or Lytenava, an investigational ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in retinal indications.

08:19 EDT CoreLogic raises FY20 adjusted EBITDA view to $565M-$585M from $500M-$525M

08:17 EDT Good Times Restaurants reports Q3 SSS for Good Times brand up 11.9% y/y - Good Times Restaurants announced that year-over-year same store sales for its Good Times brand increased 11.9%. Year-over-year same store sales at its Bad Daddy's concept decreased 36.7% during the quarter compared to its fiscal 2019 third quarter, driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government restrictions related to restaurant dining rooms. Bad Daddy's same store sales improved throughout the quarter as jurisdictions eased dining room restrictions and we expanded our carry-out and delivery business. Ryan Zink, President & CEO, said, "During the third quarter, we took essential steps to preserve our business in the short term, while at the same time retaining the character and soul of each concept that is critical for our long-term success. Nearly all of our restaurants are currently company-owned and, pivoting away from a unit-growth strategy our focus has been to profitably operate great restaurants. Further, although we have always taken great care to protect the health of our employees and guests, we have implemented additional measures to ensure their health and safety given the increased risks associated with the current pandemic." Zink continued, "The full ramifications of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry remain to be seen, especially in light of recent increases in coronavirus case counts across the country. The actions we took during our third quarter have provided us increased financial and operating flexibility, which will be necessary as the pandemic and its effects on society and our business continue to evolve and be understood."

08:15 EDT Cabaletta Bio, Artisan Bio to collaborate on CAAR T cell therapy development - Cabaletta Bio and Artisan Bio announced they have signed a research and collaboration agreement to accelerate development of next-generation CAAR T cell therapies for patients with B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Artisan will collaborate with Cabaletta to enhance certain Cabaletta pipeline products at specific targets using its platform technology and gene editing expertise. Cabaletta will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of the resulting modified cell therapy products. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

08:14 EDT 500.com receives noncompliance notification from SEC - 500.com reports that as of July 1 it is delinquent in filing its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with the . The Company previously filed a Form 12b-25 with the SEC on June 15 for late filing of the 2019 Annual Report, pursuant to which the 2019 Annual Report was due to be filed by June 30, 2020. The Company expects to file the 2019 Annual Report upon completion of the previously announced internal investigation being conducted but the Special Investigation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, with the assistance of King & Wood Mallesons as legal advisor to the SIC, once the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 are finalized, and (iii) both the Company and Friedman, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, have completed their assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

08:12 EDT Lithia Motors reports May same store vehicle unit sales up about 3% - Lithia Motors reported significant improvements across all business lines in June compared to the results previously reported for April and May. The company said in a release, "For the month of June, total same store vehicle unit sales increased approximately 3%, with same store new vehicle units decreasing approximately 15% and same store used vehicle units increasing approximately 23% over the same period last year. Service, body, and parts reflected a strong recovery in June, with same store sales decreasing approximately 3% for the month. The recovery trend in service, body, and parts for the month reflected two more production days in 2020 compared to the same period last year. Same store web traffic, representing unique visitors to our websites, increased nearly 53% for the entire month of June compared to the same period a year ago. Lithia also announced the acquisition of the Smolich Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Nissan locations in Bend, Oregon, which are anticipated to generate $100 million in steady state annualized revenues."

08:11 EDT Diffusion Pharmaceuticals files IND application for TSC in COVID-19 patients - Diffusion Pharmaceuticals announced the filing of an investigational new drug, or IND, application with the FDA for trans sodium crocetinate, or TSC, in COVID-19 patients. This IND, which incorporates pre-IND regulatory guidance from the FDA, describes an international clinical development program in the U.S. and EU, newly titled as Phase 1b/2b, testing the company's lead drug TSC in a total of approximately 424 COVID-19 patients with symptoms of impaired respiratory function and low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels are a frequent result of damage to the lungs, often leading to organ failure, the leading cause of death in COVID-19 patients. Diffusion believes TSC's oxygen-enhancing mechanism could provide a new treatment option. The new IND details three studies, comprised of an open-label Phase 1b lead-in trial which, if successful, will be followed by two randomized double-blinded Phase 2b trials. The lead-in will test TSC in 24 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the Romanian National Institute of Infectious Diseases, or NIID. Diffusion expects to begin dosing in this trial later this month, based on additional guidance received from the Romanian National Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices and the company's submission of a responsive clinical trial application amendment. The company expects this trial to read-out by the end of Q3. In addition to safety, the lead-in trial will collect data on possible increased oxygenation, thereby helping determine TSC dosing for follow-on studies. Assuming positive results for the lead-in trial, Diffusion plans to begin two Phase 2b trials - one in the U.S. and one at the NIID, which are expected to be conducted more or less in parallel, following regulatory approvals. Each is planned to enroll approximately 200 hospitalized COVID-19 patients to study the safety and efficacy of TSC compared to placebo. For consistency across regulatory agencies, both studies will incorporate the new guidance received from the FDA and the NAMMD. Data from the Romanian and U.S. Phase 2b trials are targeted for Q1 and Q2 2021, respectively.

08:10 EDT NanoVibronix signs two-year exclusive pact with with Ultra Pain Products - NanoVibronix announced that effective June 22, it has entered into a two-year exclusive agreement with Ultra Pain Products for the distribution of NanoVibronix's proprietary PainShield devices and components through and by Durable Medical Equipment Distributors throughout the United States. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, the company granted exclusive distribution rights to UPPI to sell the newest model of PainShield MD and components, including the new ergonomic design and single-use custom daily dressing or adhesive through DME distributors. In exchange, the company received an initial purchase order and minimum annual quantities, which must be achieved. The agreement is subject to minimum unit pricing restrictions and bi-monthly order quantity minimums in the first year that increase and shift to quarterly order minimums in year two. Distribution rights expressly exclude sales to Veteran's Facilities under the Federal Supply Schedule.

08:08 EDT Curis doses first patient in Phase 1 study of CA-4948 - Curis announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1 trial evaluating CA-4948, a novel, small molecule IRAK4 kinase inhibitor, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with spliceosome mutations, such as SF3B1 and U2AF1, that drive expression of the long isoform of IRAK4. IRAK4 plays an essential role in the toll-like receptor and interleukin-1 receptor signaling pathways, and these pathways are frequently dysregulated in patients with AML and MDS.

08:07 EDT Internap appoints Lisa Mayr as CFO - Internap announced the appointment of Lisa Mayr as executive VP and CFO. Mayr reports to president and CEO Michael Sicoli, who joined INAP as president and CFO in October 2019 and was appointed to his current role in May. Mayr brings to INAP more than 25 years of experience, the majority of which was spent at global technology and technology-enabled companies. Prior to INAP, Mayr served as CFO of MicroStrategy, a business intelligence software company.

08:06 EDT Happiness Biotech receives NPN license in Canada for hand sanitizer - Happiness Biotech announced that the 75% Alcohol Disposable Hand Sanitizer from the company has successfully obtained Natural Product Number license from Health Canada and the first order of 53,280 bottles have been shipped this week. Before any natural health product can be sold in Canada, it must first undergo a pre-market review where it will be assessed for safety, efficacy and quality. Products, which meet the required criteria, will be authorized for sale and each issued a Natural Product Number or Homeopathic Medicine Number.

08:04 EDT CSG extends agreement with Bell Canada - CSG and Bell, Canada's largest communications company providing advanced wireless, Internet, TV and business services, announced a seven-year extension to their long-standing partnership. The companies said in a release, "CSG will continue to support residential customer service and billing for Bell's Fibe and Alt TV services. The contract renewal extends the relationship between both companies which began in 1997. With this agreement, Bell will continue to leverage CSG ACP, part of CSG's suite of billing solutions that support hundreds of millions of voice, video and data subscribers worldwide."

08:03 EDT Accenture, AT&T working with Phillips 66 on industrial cellular connectivity - Accenture (ACN) and AT&T (T) are working with Phillips 66 (PSX) to develop industrial cellular wireless connectivity, with the development of a private cellular network solution. The companies said in a release, "The solution will lay the foundation for potential future 5G use cases, including support for Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, and low latency applications. Phillips 66 invited Accenture to address cellular performance gaps with its existing public cellular network near one of its refineries in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The private cellular network - a local cellular network that includes cell sites and core network servers that support the connectivity of a specific organization's requirements - was selected as a proof of concept to demonstrate the ability to handle increased mobile connectivity needs from the ongoing Phillips 66 digital transformation initiatives. The proof of concept private network was designed from the ground up to address Phillips 66's industrial digital requirements. AT&T was selected as the telecommunications provider to develop the necessary engineering for a dedicated cellular network solution, using multi-access edge compute across licensed spectrum."

07:59 EDT Rollins jumps 7% to $45.85 after providing Q2 revenue guidance

07:40 EDT Hepion announces preclinical data supporting COVID-19 treatment with CRV431 - Hepion Pharmaceuticals announced that its clinical phase, anti-fibrotic drug candidate, CRV431, additionally was efficacious in two distinct preclinical research models related to COVID-19 disease. Hepion said in a release, "Firstly, CRV431 demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory actions in a non-viral, acute lung injury model and on some measures outperformed dexamethasone, a recently recommended treatment for COVID-19. Secondly, cell culture experiments demonstrated CRV431 antiviral activity towards SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 disease. These results indicate the potential of CRV431 to simultaneously address the two most important objectives in the development of a therapeutic drug for COVID-19. Many individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus develop respiratory symptoms which can progress to a severe form of lung disease called acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. ARDS patients may require admission to intensive care units and are at increased risk of death. COVID-19-associated ARDS is characterized by lung cell damage, white blood cell inflammation, especially neutrophils, and elevated levels of inflammatory molecules such as interleukin-6, or IL-6. One strategy to treat COVID-19 patients is to try to decrease the viral infection with antiviral therapies. Another strategy is to try to dampen the inflammatory responses that lead to ARDS and other COVID-19 complications. The antiviral drug, remdesivir, and the anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, dexamethasone, have emerged as front-line treatments for severely affected COVID-19 patients.2 However, concerns also have been expressed about the utility of these treatments, such as their potency and the possibility that corticosteroid treatment could increase peak viral titers. To evaluate CRV431 anti-inflammatory properties in acute lung injury, a study was performed by Biomodels LLC in which mice were intranasally administered the microbial toxin, lipopolysaccharide, or LPS, to induce severe lung inflammation similar to ARDS. Some mice additionally received CRV431, drug vehicle, or dexamethasone. A fourth group of mice were intranasally administered saline instead of LPS, representing the non-diseased group. Lung inflammation was assessed two days after LPS administration by quantifying inflammatory cells and cytokines in bronchial alveolar lavage, or BAL, fluid. In vitro antiviral activity of CRV431 toward SARS-CoV-2 was demonstrated by Dr. Tom Hobman, Professor and Member of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at University of Alberta. SARS-CoV-2 replication was assessed in three cell lines by measurement of viral RNA and secretion of infectious virus from the cells. CRV431 decreased one or both markers of SARS-CoV-2 in all cell types and in all experiments. The extent of SARS-CoV-2 reduction was dependent on CRV431 concentration, cell type, and type of measurement but in some experiments exceeded 90%."

07:35 EDT Nielsen raises FY20 pre-tax restructuring charges view to $150M-$170M - Nielsen Holdings announced a broad-based optimization plan to drive permanent cost savings and operational efficiencies, as well as to position the Company for greater profitability and growth. As part of the plan, the Company will exit several smaller, underperforming markets and non-core businesses in the second half of 2020. Nielsen expects the plan to be substantially completed in 2020 and for restructuring actions and other permanent cost-saving initiatives to drive approximately $250M in pre-tax annual run-rate savings. Nielsen now expects 2020 pre-tax restructuring charges of $150M-$170M versus guidance of $120M-$140M provided in April 2020. Approximately half of these charges were incurred in the Q2 and are mostly employee severance costs. The optimization plan includes a global reduction in force of approximately 3,500 employees. Cash payments for the severance costs will continue into late 2021. The guidance provided on April 30, 2020 already incorporated the impact of the optimization plan, with the exception of the market and business exits announced today. These exits are the primary driver of the higher guidance range for 2020 restructuring versus previous expectations. The impact of these exits is expected to be no more than 100 basis points to 2020 revenue growth, with an immaterial impact on 2020 adjusted EBITDA. Nielsen also estimates $40M-$50M of non-cash, pre-tax impairment charges in the second quarter related to these planned exits. Nielsen expects overall Q2 financial results to be in line with commentary provided on the Q1 earnings call. The company plans to provide a detailed update on Q2 results and the 2020 outlook on the Q2 earnings call on August 5.

07:35 EDT Flotek regains NYSE compliance - Flotek Industries announced it has received written notice from the New York Stock Exchange that it has regained compliance with the NYSE's continued listing standards. The notification is a result of the company's average closing price for the 30-trading days ended June 30, exceeding the NYSE's minimum requirement of $1.00 per share, based on a 30-trading day average.

07:33 EDT Hartford Financial extends COVID-19 personal auto payback plan - The Hartford is extending its COVID-19 Personal Auto Payback Plan through June. The plan originally provided customers with a 15 percent credit on their April and May personal auto insurance premiums. Extending the plan through June brings the total amount the company will distribute to its customers to approximately $80M. The Hartford will continue to work with state insurance departments to make these additional credits available as quickly as possible. The company intends to issue the credit to all personal auto insurance customers with policies in force as of June 1. No action is needed from customers, the credit will occur automatically.

07:32 EDT Novocure enrolls last patient in HEPANOVA trial - Novocure announced that the last patient has been enrolled in the HEPANOVA trial, a phase 2 pilot trial testing Tumor Treating Fields in combination with sorafenib in patients with advanced liver cancer. The final data collection date is six months after the last patient in.

07:29 EDT Kirkland Lake Gold reports Q2 gold production of 329,770 ounces - Kirkland Lake Gold announced production results for Q2. Q2 production totaled 329,770 ounces, an increase of 115,177 ounces or 54% from 214,593 ounces for Q2 of 2019. Year to date, the company produced 660,634 ounces, 214,162 ounces or 48% higher than the first half of 2019. Gold poured in Q2 totaled 338,573 ounces versus 216,166 ounces in Q2 of 2019 and 326,933 ounces in Q1. Q2 gold sales totaled 341,390 ounces at an average realized price of $1,716 per ounce compared to gold sales of 212,091 ounces in Q2 of 2019 and 344,586 ounces the previous quarter. Tony Makuch, president and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: "We had a very solid second quarter despite the impact of COVID-19 and the extensive measures we took to protect our workers, their families and our communities. In Australia, Fosterville continued to perform well, with tonnes processed increasing in the quarter and grades continuing to average around 40 g/t. At Detour Lake, the ramp up of business activities after the mine was placed on reduced operations in March due to COVID-19 commenced in early May and has gone very well. Detour Lake produced over 130,000 ounces in Q2 2020 even with lower average grades during the period of reduced operations due largely to processing stockpiled material. With improving operating performance, strong free cash flow generation and very encouraging exploration results from early drilling, our acquisition of Detour Gold is already emerging as a very successful transaction, with substantial value creation potential. We have also benefited greatly from our decision to close out Detour Gold's hedge positions shortly after the acquisition, with Detour's gold hedges priced between $1,300 and $1,490 per ounce versus our average realized price in Q2 2020 of $1,716 per ounce. Turning to Macassa, our processing volumes were impacted by COVID-19 more than at other operations, which in combination with lower grades resulted in Q2 2020 production below planned levels. With our workforce now back to pre-COVID-19 levels, recognizing that our social distancing protocols remain in place, we expect to see higher volumes and improved grades at Macassa during the second half of the year. We also continue to generate encouraging exploration results at Macassa, which highlight the potential for considerable growth in Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources in the SMC and along both the Main/'04 and Amalgamated breaks."

07:17 EDT Regeneron: REGN-COV2 initial doses may be ready as early as end of summer - Regeneron began scaling up manufacturing of REGN-COV2 at business risk in spring of 2020. This agreement supports continued manufacturing so that the product could be made available immediately in the United States if clinical trials are successful and the U.S. FDA grants Emergency Use Authorization or product approval. The agreement covers a fixed number of bulk lots that are intended to be completed in the fall of 2020, as well as fill/finish and storage activities. The ongoing REGN-COV2 clinical program is evaluating multiple dosages and will help establish the exact number of potential treatment doses (estimated range of 70,000 to 300,000) or prevention doses (estimated range of 420,000 to 1,300,000) available from these lots in total. Initial doses may be ready as early as end of summer. If EUA or product approval is granted, the government has committed to making doses from these lots available to the American people at no cost and would be responsible for their distribution.

07:11 EDT Myriad Genetics announces publication of two riskScore analyses - Myriad Genetics announced two recent publications validating the polygenic risk score, or PRS, component of Myriad's breast cancer risk stratification tool riskScore. The publications clinically validate both the ability of the PRS component of riskScore to predict breast cancer risk in asymptomatic women and modify risk estimations for patients identified with pathogenic mutations. The first study published in JCO Precision Oncology described the PRS component of riskScore in over 150,000 women. It showed that independent of other hereditary breast cancer gene mutations, Myriad's polygenic risk score can add value and precision to breast cancer risk estimates. The PRS was highly associated with breast cancer risk with an odds ratio of 1.47 per unit standard deviation in the PRS. This translated to women in the top PRS percentile having a three-fold higher risk of breast cancer than an average risk patient. The second study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open demonstrates the ability of Myriad's polygenic risk score to improve breast cancer risk stratification in women diagnosed with pathogenic mutations in common breast cancer genes. The study evaluated over 150,000 patients and approximately 10,000 patients who were carriers of pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, ATM and PALB2 genes who were tested at Myriad. The study demonstrated that patients with high penetrant genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 did not warrant changes in clinical management; however, breast cancer risks in patients with moderate penetrant genes such as CHEK2, ATM and PALB2 could vary significantly, warranting different clinical management considerations. For example, patients with a PALB2 mutation historically have been assessed to have an approximately 50% lifetime risk for breast cancer. However, after incorporating the data from Myriad's 86 single nucleotide polymporphism riskScore test, patient risks varied between 26% to 79%.

07:07 EDT Zoetis, Trianni collaborate on transgenic monoclonal antibody platforms - Trianni and Zoetis announced a collaboration for the development of transgenic monoclonal antibody platforms for the discovery of new veterinary treatments. No financial details were disclosed.

07:06 EDT Mesa Air reports 9,247 block hours in June - Mesa Air Group reported Mesa Airlines' operating performance for June. Mesa Air said in a release, "Mesa Airlines reported 9,247 block hours in June 2020, a 75.8 percent drop from June 2019 as a result of reduced schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also reported a controllable completion factor of 100 percent for both its American and United operations."

07:04 EDT Cubic awarded $950M contract by U.S. Air Force - Cubic announced its Cubic Mission Solutions, or CMS, business division was awarded a $950M ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, or ID/IQ, contract for the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Battle Management System, or ABMS. Cubic said in a release, "The Air Force will use the contract for the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control, or JADC2. This contract is part of a multiple award, multi-level security effort to provide development and operation of systems as a unified force across all domains in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms."

07:01 EDT Syndax appoints Daphne Karydas as CFO - Syndax Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Daphne Karydas as CFO, effective July 13. Karydas, who brings to Syndax nearly 20 years of financial experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, most recently served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis and Strategy at Allergan, where she oversaw the company's long-term financial and business strategy. She will succeed Richard P. Shea, who will be retiring from his role as Syndax's CFO. Karydas joined Allergan in 2017 as Senior Vice President of Global Investor Relations and Strategy, leading engagement with the investment community and business strategy development. Prior to joining Allergan, she served as Executive Director and Senior Healthcare Analyst at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Previously, she was a Portfolio Manager and Senior Healthcare Analyst at The Boston Company Asset Management, a BNY Mellon company.

07:00 EDT Air Products, ACWA and NEOM sign agreement for $5B renewable energy facility - Air Products, in conjunction with ACWA Power and NEOM, announced the signing of an agreement for a $5B world-scale green hydrogen-based ammonia production facility powered by renewable energy. The project, which will be equally owned by the three partners, will be sited in NEOM, a new model for sustainable living located in the north west corner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will produce green ammonia for export to global markets. The joint venture project is the first partnership for NEOM with international and national partners in the renewable energy field and it will be "a cornerstone" for its strategy to become a player in the global hydrogen market. It is based on technology and will include the integration of over four gigawatts of renewable power from solar, wind and storage; production of 650 tons per day of hydrogen by electrolysis using thyssenkrupp technology; production of nitrogen by air separation using Air Products technology and production of 1.2M tons per year of green ammonia using Haldor Topsoe technology. The project is scheduled to be onstream in 2025. Air Products will be the exclusive off-taker of the green ammonia and intends to transport it around the world to be dissociated to produce green hydrogen for the transportation market.

06:50 EDT Comstock Mining reports selected Q2 strategic and financial highlights - Comstock Mining announced selected strategic and financial highlights, unaudited, for the Q2. Q2 selected strategic highlights include: Investments in Mercury Clean Up increased to $1.75M in cash and stock with the Comstock mercury remediation system completed and ready for shipment; Committed to Investment in MCU Philippines after MCU signed a definitive joint venture agreement with Clean Ore Solutions OPC, to partner and lead in a major mercury remediation project in the Philippines; Advanced permitting of Tonogold Resources exploration drill plans for July, 2020; and consummated the April acquisition of 25% of Pelen LLC, the owner of the historic Sutro Tunnel Company. Q2 selected financial highlights, unaudited, include: Received a $500,000 early payment from Tonogold against obligations due October 15, with the remaining payments due totaling $4.9M at June 30; Valued equity investment in Tonogold at over $10.4M at June 30; Reduced Senior Debt principal to $4.5M at June 30; Cash and cash equivalents at June 30 were approximately $1.0M; and Common shares outstanding at June 30, 2020, were 28,815,000 shares.

06:47 EDT Annovis Bio receives IRB approval to begin Phase 2 in early PD, AD patients - Annovis Bio reported that it has received Central Institutional Review Board approval to begin its Phase 2 clinical study in early PD and early AD patients at 15 sites across the US. The two-part study is designed to treat a combined total of 68 PD and AD patients for 4 weeks with Annovis' lead compound, ANVS401. The study compares in both patient populations how nerve cells die by measuring all the steps in the toxic cascade leading to nerve cell death and how ANVS401 might reverse the toxic cascade and recover normal brain function. In addition to target and pathway engagement, the Phase 2 study will also examine safety and tolerability as well as the effect of ANVS401 on motor impairment and non-motor symptoms in early PD patients and the effect on memory and cognitive function in early AD subjects.

06:36 EDT ChromaDex to begin preclinical study of Niagen with the NIAID - ChromaDex announced the initiation of a preclinical study in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, a division of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. This study will assess if administration of Niagen, or nicotinamide riboside, or NR, can reduce viral burden and inflammation in mouse and hamster models of COVID-19. ChromaDex's patent-protected NR is a unique nutrient that supports cellular energy production and healthy mitochondrial function through efficient restoration of NAD+ levels. The study is part of the ChromaDex External Research Program, or CERP, in which ChromaDex's NR ingredient and placebos are provided to researchers at no cost. This joint study is designed to assess in mice and hamsters whether NR supplementation prior to infection can reduce progression of the infection either by limiting viral replication or modulating the inflammatory response, having a positive impact on disease severity and duration, as well as increasing survival.

06:23 EDT Amdocs expands agreement with Bell - Amdocs announced it has expanded its agreement with Bell, Canada's largest communications company, to incorporate an extended set of Amdocs' real-time microservices which leverage the Amdocs Microservices360 framework. The agreement supports Bell's continued investments to further increase agility of its platforms to provide innovative new services to its customers. Bell recently announced that it has deployed several microservices of the Amdocs CES20 portfolio and is now continuing its technology evolution path with Amdocs. Based on a long-standing partnership for IT technologies and managed services, the program offers Bell Canada more benefits from Amdocs' next generation of customer experience solutions, which are cloud-native, highly scalable and utilize a low IT footprint.

06:09 EDT Armada Hoffler and WeWork to terminate lease at Wills Wharf in Harbor Point - Armada Hoffler Properties announced that following discussion with WeWork, both parties agreed to terminate the lease of the top two office floors of Wills Wharf in Harbor Point, prior to Armada Hoffler funding of any tenant improvements. "We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial outcome with WeWork regarding the top two office floors of Wills Wharf," said Louis Haddad, President & CEO of Armada Hoffler Properties. "With its prime waterfront location in Harbor Point, we are in active negotiations to lease the balance of the building, inclusive of the 69,000 square feet that WeWork was to occupy. Wills Wharf is a prime destination for office tenants looking to upgrade their space and relocate to the dynamic Harbor Point neighborhood. We appreciate the cooperation and collaboration with WeWork in finding an optimal business solution at this location." Wills Wharf is a mixed-use building located in the Harbor Point neighborhood, at the center of Baltimore's urban renaissance.

06:06 EDT Novavax up 22% to $97.00 after $1.6B funding from Operation Warp Speed

06:02 EDT Nemaura Medical submits PMA application for sugarBEAT to U.S. FDA - Nemaura Medical together with BEATdiabetes, announced it has submitted its PMA application for sugarBEAT to the United States FDA through the eCopy program submission process. The intended use of sugarBEAT is for persons with diabetes as an adjunct to finger prick testing to monitor and track their glucose profiles, so that the user can be better informed about the factors affecting their glucose profile, and to help manage their diabetes or potentially reverse their diabetes in the case of Type 2 diabetes. sugarBEAT is targeted initially at the Type 2 diabetic population, which number is greater than 25M people in the U.S.

05:59 EDT Pure Acquisition Corp. announces amendment to merger agreement - Pure Acquisition announced that it has amended its business combination agreement with, among others, HighPeak Energy and certain affiliates of HighPeak Energy Partners to enhance the return for those Pure stockholders who participate in the business combination. Pure said in a release, "As merger consideration, each Pure stockholder who participates in the business combination will receive: One share of HighPeak Energy common stock; A cash payment equal to the amount, if any, by which the per-share redemption value of Pure's Class A common stock exceeds $10.00 per share at the closing of the business combination and which is estimated to be approximately 60c per share; One public contingent value right, or Public CVR, at the closing of the business combination in exchange for each share of Pure Class A common stock which provides holders with a 10% per annum preferred simple return including downside protection to $4.00 per share. The Public CVRs are contractual rights to receive a contingent payment in the form of additional shares of HighPeak Energy common stock. The Public CVRs provide significant valuation protection if the trading price of HighPeak Energy's common stock is below the price that would provide the Public CVR holder with a 10% preferred simple annual return based on $10.00 per share at the closing of the business combination, subject to a floor downside per-share price of $4.00 at the CVR maturity date of two years which can be extended an additional six months by the HighPeak Funds. HighPeak Energy intends to list the Public CVRs on either the NYSE or the Nasdaq. The HighPeak Funds will deposit 2.125 shares of HighPeak Energy common stock in escrow to secure the downside protection and preferred return for Pure stockholders who participate in the HighPeak Energy business combination. If any additional shares of HighPeak Energy common stock are issued to Public CVR holders following the CVR maturity date, the HighPeak Funds will forfeit an equivalent number of escrowed shares to HighPeak Energy for cancellation. HighPeak Energy will also issue contingent value rights to forward purchase investors and PIPE investors which will have generally the same characteristics as the Public CVRs except the Private CVRs will not be listed or traded on any national exchange."

05:26 EDT Endo announces FDA approval of Qwo - Endo International announced that it received FDA approval of Qwo for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. QWO is the first FDA-approved injectable treatment for cellulite.

05:21 EDT Sunrun announces agreement to acquire Vivint Solar for enterprise value of $3.2B