(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. stock index futures pointed to modest gains at the open onThursday after the European Central Bank announced expandedmeasures to stimulate the region's economy. Dow Jones industrialaverage e-mini futures were up 0.54 percent at 17,585,S&P 500 e-mini futures were up 0.64 percent at 2,039.5and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were up 0.55 percent at4,205.75.
** LANDS' END INC , Wednesday close $50.71, -21.91pct premarket
The apparel retailer forecast lower revenue from merchandisesales and services in the fourth quarter. "We were disappointedby the performance of our cold weather assortment, especiallyduring the peak holiday period," Chief Executive Edgar Hubersaid. International business was affected by unfavorable changesin currency exchange rates and lower sales in Europe. Thecompany, spun off from Sears Holdings Corp last year,forecast Q4 earnings much below analysts' average estimate.
** CITY NATIONAL CORP, Wednesday close$74.57, +18.40 pct premarket
Royal Bank of Canada said it would buy theU.S. lender serving high net worth clients in a cash-and-stockdeal valued at $5.4 billion. RBC offered $47.25 in cash and0.7489 in shares for each City National share. The total offerof $93.80 per share, based on RBC's closing price of $62.16 onthe New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, represents a premiumof nearly 26 percent to City National's last closing price.
** F5 NETWORKS INC, Wednesday close $125.95, -14.41pct premarket
The network equipment maker reported revenue that missedWall Street's estimates for the first time in eight quarters dueto "a marked decrease in the number of deals greater than $1million".
At least 8 brokerages cut price targets on the stock by asmuch as $25 to as low as $105; Median target price $133
"Comps become much more difficult in the coming quarters andthe company will have to prove that newer initiatives likesecurity can drive revenue re-acceleration and sustainabledouble-digit growth" Barclays analysts wrote in a note.
** LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL SA, Wednesday close$14.09, +8.16 pct premarket
The company increased profitability outlook for full year2015. The traders cited strong EBIT number of $76.4 mln for thethird quarter. The stock was the top riser on Stoxx 600, with a full-day's 30-day average volume alreadytraded.
** PETROBRAS , Wednesday close $7.35, +5.71 pctpremarket
** TOTAL SA , Wednesday close $51.64, +0.35 pctpremarket
** BP Plc , Wednesday close $38.82, +0.41 pctpremarket
** HALLIBURTON CO , Wednesday close $40.69, +0.27pct premarket
** SCHLUMBERGER LTD , Wednesday close $82.21, +0.57pct premarket
** SEADRILL LTD , Wednesday close $10.38, +3.37 pctpremarket
** TRANSOCEAN LTD , Wednesday close $16.06, +1.49pct premarket
** NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD , Wednesday close$10.86, +1.20 pct premarket
Brent crude rose ahead of an expected decision by EuropeanCentral Bank to start buying bonds, a move which could pushdollar to new highs and put downward pressure on commodities.Brent crude up 2 pct at $49.99 per barrel; U.S. crude up 1.5 pct at $48.49 per barrel.
** BLACKBERRY LTD, Wednesday close $9.93, +5.54 pctpremarket
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is actively pursuinga plan to take over or buy a significant stake in the canadiancompany despite statements from both companies this weekdenying that such a plan may be in the works, Canada's FinancialPost reported. (http://bit.ly/1wpG0Ue)
** XILINX INC, Wednesday close $41.51, -7.25 pctpremarket
The programmable-chip maker's shares forecast Q3 revenue andQ4 revenue below analysts' average estimates. Results andforecast hurt by weak sales to broadcast and communicationscustomers.
At least nine brokerages cut price targets, with Robert W.Baird & Co slashing by $8.00 to $44.00
** MEDIVATION , Wednesday close $111.2, -3.39 pctpremarket
The drug developer says its prostate cancer therapy Xtandiwas not as safe as AstraZeneca Plc's treatment Casodexin a mid-stage study. 31 pct patients given Xtandi had seriousadverse reactions compared with 23.3 pct patients who were givenCasodex. Xtandi increased the time patients survived withoutprogression of the disease to 15.7 months, compared to 5.8months among Casodex patients.
** COVENANT TRANSPORTATION, Wednesday close$24.76, +9.05 pct premarket
The transportation services provider's Q4 earnings 82 centsper share came above the average analyst estimate 74 cents. Peakholiday shipping, lower fuel costs boosted profit, CEO DavidParker said.
** SANDISK CORP, Wednesday close $80.44, -6.51 pctpremarket
The memory chip maker forecast current-quarter andfull-year 2015 revenue well below Wall Street expectations,saying it would be unable to meet demand for flash memorystorage chips until mid-year due to lean inventory levels.
** KERYX BIOPHARMACEUTICALS INC, Wednesday close$12.87, -2.41 pct premarket
The drug developer's offering of 9.2 mln shares priced at$12 each, a discount of 6.8 pct to Wednesday's close. Thecompany, which had 91.9 mln shares outstanding as of Wednesday'sclose, said it would use $110 mln proceeds to fund marketing ofrecently approved chronic kidney disease treatment Auryxia.
** INTREXON CORP, Wednesday close $28.4, -1.37 pctpremarket
The synthetic biology company's offering of 3.8 millionshares priced at $27.00 each, a discount of 4.9 pct to thestock's Wednesday's closing price. Company had about 100.5 mlnshares outstanding as of Wednesday, according to Thomson Reutersdata.
** BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC, Wednesday close$96.14, -2.86 pct premarket
The drugmaker's offering of 8.5 mln shares priced at $93.25each, a 3 pct discount to the stock's Wednesday close. THecompany had 147.4 mln shares outstanding as of Sept. 30,according to Thomson Reuters data. Says to use net proceeds tofund acquisition of Dutch drug developer Prosensa Holding NV and for general corporate purposes.
** AMERICAN EXPRESS CO, Wednesday close$87.67, -2.69 pct premarket
The world's largest credit card issuer will cut more than4,000 jobs this year, an executive said, after the credit cardcompany also reported higher quarterly expenses and provisionsfor bad loans. The planned redundancies, from a workforce ofnearly 63,000, contributed to a $313 million pre-taxrestructuring charge.
Jefferies cuts price target to $90 from $95, Barclays to $96from $100, and Bernstein to $97 from $99.
** EBAY INC, Wednesday close $53.38, +3.03 pctpremarket
The company plans to break up into three different companiesto accommodate would-be suitors, signaling a potential mergerfight after the breakup.
The company plans to spin off its payments division,PayPal, from its core marketplace division in the second half ofthe year, making two standalone publicly traded companies thatsome analysts say could be worth more than the combinedentity.
Cowen and Co raises price target to $57 from $55, RBCCapital Markets to $58 from $55 and Susquehanna Financial Groupto $59 from $52.
** VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC, Wednesday close$48.25, -0.41 pct premarket
THe company's quarterly revenue rose 6.8 percent due tohigher net addition of postpaid subscribers and a rise inaverage revenue per account as users added more devices toshared data plans. The company, however, reported a loss of$2.15 billion, or 54 cents per share, for the fourth quartercompared with a profit of $7.92 billion, or $1.76 per share, ayear earlier, mainly due to valuation of benefits plan andpension adjustments.
** MICROSOFT CORP, Wednesday close $45.92, +0.78pct premarket
The ageing tech pioneer surprised the tech world onWednesday with a prototype hologram visor that can bring theMinecraft video game, Skype calls and even the landscape of Marsto three-dimensional life.
** SALLIE MAE CORP, Wednesday close $9.69, -13.21pct premarket
The provider of student loans forecasted 2015 EPS of 48-50cents below analysts average estimate of 62 cents, according toThomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net income for the fourth quarterplunged 75 pct to $14.9 million, missing analysts' averageestimate. Provision for loan losses rises 7 pct to $30 millionin Q4.
** FAMILY DOLLAR STORES INC, Wednesday close $75.55
The shareholders are expected to vote in favor of a pending$8.5 billion merger with Dollar Tree Inc despite ahigher offer from Dollar General still on the table,according to people familiar with the matter.
The vote, which is scheduled for Thursday, comes afterinfluential proxy advisory firm Institutional ShareholderServices said Dollar Tree's proposal was in the best interest ofshareholders and was more likely to close as it faces fewerantitrust hurdles than the Dollar General offer. (Compiled by Rosmi Shaji in Bengaluru; Edited by Don Sebastian)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
