(For faster updates on individual market-movers, Eikon usersplease use search string "STXBZ US"; for the Day Aheadnewsletter, http://link.reuters.com/mex49s; for the Morning NewsCall newsletter, http://link.reuters.com/nex49s)U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, with each of the major indexesclimbing more than 1 percent, building on the prior session'srally after the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy statement and oilprices that showed signs of steadying. The Dow Jones industrialaverage rose 0.75 percent, the S&P 500 were up 0.8percent and the Nasdaq Composite were up 1.36 percent.
** FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORP, $5.01, +138.57 pct
The education loan provider said the Internal RevenueService (IRS) has informed the company that it would notchallenge federal tax refunds the company received. IRS proposedin September 2013 to disallow a loss that resulted in the taxrefunds of $176.6 million and $45.1 million.
** BELLICUM PHARMACEUTICALS INC, $27.16, +42.95 pct
The biopharmaceutical company's shares rose as much as 40percent on its debut on Thursday. The company offerd 7.35million shares at $19, above $15-$17 marketed range.
** OVASCIENCE INC, $47.35, +35.44 pct
Wedbush Securities raised its rating on the fertilitytreatment developer to "outperform" from "neutral" after companysaid it will launch 2 fertility products and gave update on theprogress of third treatment.
** SILICON IMAGE INC, $4.98, -26.11 pct
The chipmaker said it expects revenue to fall 10 percent in2015 due to fewer mobile design wins from one its largestcustomers.
** COMSTOCK RESOURCES INC, $5.93, -13.43 pct
The oil and gas producer said it plans to suspend oildrilling in Eagle Ford shale properties in south and east Texasand Tuscaloosa Marine shale in Mississippi as oil prices plunge.
** TETRAPHASE PHARMACEUTICALS INC, $38.2, +15.09pct
The drug developer said its antibiotic to treat complicatedintra-abdominal infections was as effective as Merck & Co Inc's ertapenem in a late-stage study.
** DUNKIN' BRANDS GROUP INC, $42.395, -8.28 pct
The Dunkin' Donuts restaurant operator cut its 2015 forecastfor same-store sales growth in the United States and operatingincome growth, citing slowing sales of packaged coffee in itsrestaurants.
** AGENUS INC, $3.836, +14.51 pct
** GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC, $43.2, +2.76 pct
The biotechnology company said an experimental vaccineagainst shingles by its partner GlaxoSmithKline met itsgoal in a late-stage study. Agenus will get royalties onpotential commercial sales of the vacine.
** ORACLE INC, $44.53, +8.19 pct
The software maker reported a 3.5 percent increase inquarterly revenue on Wednesday, beating Wall Street'sexpectations, as sales at its closely watched cloud servicesbusiness rose 45 percent.
** KIRBY CORP, $82.1, -7.49 pct
The tank bank operator lowered fourth-quarter earningsestimate to $1.10-$1.20 per share from $1.30-$1.40 per share.The company also lowered its full-year earnings estimate to$4.84 to $4.94 per share from $5.04-$5.14 per share.
** CEPHEID, $53.74, +7.93 pct
Analysts at BofA Merrill Lynch upgraded the biotechnologycompany's stock to "buy" from "neutral". The analysts saidCepheid is poised to gain market share, citing a growing menu ofdiagnostic tests, improved execution with 7,500 placements ofthe company's GeneXpert systems and slow response from itscompetitors.
** WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC, $21.85, -8.39 pct
The maker of motorhomes and camping trailers reported alower-than-expected profit as a shortage of workers at a keyplant in rural Iowa and trouble sourcing key components fromsuppliers stymied production of the company's recreationalvehicles.
** REAL GOODS SOLAR INC, $0.6689, +15.33 pct
The solar company said it won more than 80 contracts toinstall rooftop solar power systems on homes and smallbusinesses. The company said the projects represent more than600kW of solar power.
** ACCENTURE PLC, $89, +4.34 pct
The consulting and outsourcing company raised its revenueforecast for fiscal 2015 after contract wins helped the companypost better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue. The company said it expects revenue growth of 5-8 percent forthe year ending August on a local currency basis, up from the4-7 percent growth it had estimated earlier.
** RITE AID CORP, $6.77, +11.72 pct
The U.S. drugstore chain raised its full-year earningsforecast after cutting it twice this year as higher sales ofprescription drugs pushed up its profit and revenue in the thirdquarter.
** CONAGRA FOODS INC, $36.04, -2.86 pct
The Slim Jim Beef Jerky and Chef Boyardee pasta makerreported quarterly sales that missed estimates due to weakdemand for branded foods and said recovery in itsunder-performing private-label business would take longer thanexpected.
** AK STEEL HOLDING CORP, $6.08, +9.35 pct
The steel maker said it expects fourth-quarter shipments tojump 37 percent compared with the third quarter, helped byacquisitions and strong demand from auto industry.
** THE PANTRY INC, $36.5567, +2.92 pct
Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc will buysmaller U.S. rival Pantry for about $861 million, a deal thatpositions it as one of the top convenience store operators inNorth America.
** BLACKBERRY LTD, $10.0639, +0.84 pct
The Canadian mobile technology company launched itslong-awaited Classic on Wednesday, a smartphone it hopes willhelp it win back market share and woo those still using olderversions of its physical keyboard devices.
** ZAGG INC, $6.13, +15.01 pct
The mobile accessories maker raised its full-year net salesforecast to $250 million-$255 million from previous range of$225 million-$235 million. The forecast also beat analysts'average estimate of $232.5 million, according to Thomson ReutersI/B/E/S.
** EXXON MOBIL CORP, $90.32, +1.46 pct
** CHEVRON CORP, $108.07, +1.93 pct
** CONOCOPHILLIPS, $68.81, +2.79 pct
** CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP, $18.98, +1.61 pct
Oil company stocks rise after Brent crude jumps 3.3percent to above $63/bbl, extending a rebound from 5-year lowsthis week as more energy firms cut investment in new production.
** HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC, $22.75, +6.76 pct
Carl Icahn, the rental car company's largest shareholder,raised stake in the company to 11.34 percent from 10.77 percent.Icahn revealed an 8.48 percent stake in Hertz in August; he hassince ousted CEO Mark Frissora and won three board seats at thecompany.
** ALCATEL-LUCENT SA, $3.52, +6.02 pct
** NOKIA, $8.01, +1.91 pct
Two of Europe's top three remaining telecommunicationsequipment companies, Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent, have revivedtalks on a possible merger, Germany's Manager Magazin reportedon Thursday, citing company sources.
** HERMAN MILLER INC, $29.52, -5.08 pct
The furniture maker forecast full-year profit and saleslargely below analysts' estimates. The company also reportedsecond-quarter adjusted profit of 51 cents per share, belowaverage analyst estimate of 52 cents.
** OCWEN FINANCIAL CORP, $20.69, -2.36 pct
The mortgage servicer is facing scrutiny from New York stateand the federal government over whether the company improperlystalled short sales of property to collect more fees, Bloombergreported, citing sources.
** GENWORTH FINANCIAL INC, $7.83, -1.26 pct
The life and mortgage insurer said the review of long termcare insurance active life margins is taking longer thanexpected. The company said it now expects to complete review onor before fourth quarter results in February.
** JABIL CIRCUIT INC, $20.73, +3.29 pct
The company, which makes phone casings for Apple Inc, forecasts second-quarter revenue above estimates,boosted by strong sales of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The companyforecast second quarter core earnings of 39-50 cents per share,higher than analysts' average estimate of profit of 38 cents pershare.
** NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE, $1.945, -2.26 pct
The largest Greek bank's U.S.-listed shares down afterfirst-round presidential vote in Greece saw Prime MinisterAntonis Samaras lose by larger-than-expected margin. (Compiled by Anannya Pramanick in Bengaluru; Edited by DonSebastian)