Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Thursday's session are Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM), Sears
Holdings Corp. (SHLD) and Omnicare Inc. (OCR).
Williams-Sonoma lowered its full-year and fourth-quarter
guidance, despite improved holiday sales, citing high promotional
activity during the holidays. The high-end home-furnishing
retailer's shares slumped 8.3% to $35.85 in recent premarket
trading.
Struggling Sears suffered another setback when a large lender
said it would no longer finance loans to suppliers awaiting payment
from the company, The Wall Street Journal reported. Shares fell 10%
to $29.51 premarket.
The Federal Trade Commission likely will block nursing-home
pharmacy firm Omnicare's offer to buy rival PharMerica Corp. (PMC),
the New York Post reported Thursday on its website, citing a person
close to the situation. Omnicare's shares dropped 4.9% to $33.63
premarket, and PharMerica slipped 9.6% to $13.53.
Dutch financial services company ING Groep NV (ING, INGA.AE)
Thursday said it will abandon its plan to float its European-Asian
insurance operations as one entity because choppy markets in Europe
make it difficult to unload it. Shares rose 6.6% to $8.21
premarket.
U.S.-listed share of India software group Infosys Ltd. (INFY)
fell 9.4% to $51.50 premarket after the group reportedly posted a
33% rise in quarterly net profit, but sharply cut its dollar
forecast for the year.
Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) projected fourth-quarter revenue
slightly above analysts' expectations, leading it to again raise
its earnings guidance for 2011. Shares of the largest U.S. chain of
farm and ranch stores rose 5.4% to $76.90 in recent premarket
trading.
Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. (MFLX) said late Wednesday that
fiscal first-quarter revenue was higher than expected because
supply chain shortages from the flooding in Thailand improved and
as shipments to its largest customer increased. Shares of the
company, which makes flexible printed circuits and circuit
assemblies, jumped 11% to $23.81 in recent premarket trading
Wednesday.
PVH Corp. (PVH) boosted its fiscal fourth-quarter guidance after
the apparel company's Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands
delivered stronger sales, offsetting weaker performance in its
Heritage business. Shares still fell 3.6% to $71.25 premarket as
PVH warned that this year's earnings growth would take place
entirely in the second half, citing higher product costs and
negative foreign-exchange effects in the coming months.
Chevron Corp. (CVX) warned investors it expects its
fourth-quarter 2011 earnings to be "significantly" lower than in
the preceding quarter, when higher margins and the sale of a major
refinery buoyed results. Shares slid 1.4% to $106.24 premarket.
Questcor Pharmaceutical Inc. (QCOR) defended itself Wednesday
after the drug maker learned of a Wall Street blog's plan to
publish negative reports on its business practices. Shares rose
2.6% to $36.27 in recent premarket trading.
U.S.-listed shares of Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize Group
(DEG) fell 8.6% to $54.48 in thin pre-opening trade, following
losses in Europe after the group said it will cut 5,000 jobs after
disappointing fourth-quarter sales.
Jaguar Mining Inc. (JAG, JAG.T) said G. Rogerio F. Fernandes
will succeed Lucio Cardoso as chief operating officer following
Cardoso's retirement at the end of the month, the latest executive
change at the company. Shares rose 4.7% to $7.15 in premarket
trading as Jaguar said the management change is not expected to
have any impact on the company's strategic review process.
Camden Property Trust (CPT) said its public offering of 5.75
million common shares priced at a 2.6% discount to Wednesday's
close. Shares were trading 2.7% lower premarket at $59.55, compared
with the offering's price of $59.60 a share.
Openwave Systems Inc. (OPWV) said it had retained advisor
Jefferies & Co. to help it explore strategic options for its
mediation and messaging products business, as the software maker
looks to focus on protecting its patents. Shares gained 6.8% to
$1.89 premarket.
Cache Inc. (CACH) said it expects its fiscal fourth-quarter
earnings to be lower than previously expected due to increased
promotions in December, but the shopping-mall operator issued
first-quarter guidance above analyst expectations. Shares slipped
4.6% to $5.60 premarket.
Online media company Local.com Corp. (LOCM) announced record
fourth-quarter 2011 search traffic. Shares rose 5.7% to $2.60
premarket.
DragonWave Inc.'s (DRWI, DWI.T) fiscal third-quarter loss
widened as sales continued to slump and margins declined. Shares
dropped 14% to $3.25 premarket.
Watch List:
Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI) agreed to buy a portfolio
of ground lease-related assets from Wireless Capital Partners LLC
for about $180 million in cash and the assumption of $320 million
in debt, giving the cell-tower company greater control over some of
its towers.
Exfo Inc.'s (EXFO, EXF.T) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 79%
from a year-ago period boosted by a one-time gain, though the maker
of telecommunications testing reported that sales strengthened
across most of its main product groups.
Kohl's Corp. (KSS) said Thursday that it's planning to further
expand its New York City design office and add a new one on the
West Coast to support the department-store retailer's strategy of
focusing on exclusive brands.
Linn Energy LLC (LINE) said it plans to offer 17 million units
to repay debt, while Camden Property Trust (CPT) unveiled a public
offering of up to 5.75 million common shares to purchase the
remaining interest in 12 joint ventures.
PepsiCo Inc.'s (PEP) Pepsi Beverages bottling unit agreed to
settle race-discrimination charges for $3.1 million alongside
pledges to provide job offers and training, according to the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
RailAmerica Inc. (RA) said carload traffic crept down again in
December as a large volume drop in coal, the company's biggest
commodity group, failed to offset growth in agricultural products
and other lower-volume commodities.
Regions Financial Corp. (RF) Wednesday agreed to sell its
brokerage Morgan Keegan & Co. to wealth manager Raymond James
Financial Inc. (RJF) for $930 million, in addition to a dividend
that raises its total proceeds to $1.18 billion.
-Edited by Ian Thomson and Maya Pope-Chappell; write to
ian.thomson@dowjones.com and maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com