Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Monday's session are and
Sysco Corp. (SYY) agreed to acquire fellow food-services
distributor U.S. Foods in a stock-and-cash deal valued at roughly
$3.5 billion, a move Sysco expects will complement its core
offerings and increase its geographic footprint. Sysco shares
surged 27% at $43.55 in premarket trading.
Medical products maker Hologic Inc. (HOLX) named Stephen P.
MacMillan as its new president and chief executive, replacing Jack
W. Cumming, as the company also unveiled a deal to name two of
activist investor Carl Icahn's nominees to its board. Shares rose
2.7% to $22.90 premarket.
Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (ANR) agreed to sell
its 50% interest in its Alpha Shale Resources joint venture to Rice
Energy for $300 million in cash and stock. Alpha and Rice Energy
formed the venture in 2010 to develop a portion of Alpha's
Marcellus natural gas holdings in Greene County, Pa. Shares edged
up 2.9% to $6.76 premarket.
McDonald's Corp.'s (MCD) global same-store sales rose 0.5% in
November, with European restaurants making up for weakness in the
U.S. and Japan. McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food company,
continues to struggle with a soft global economy that has caused
consumers to pull back on restaurant spending. Shares slipped 0.7%
to $96.12 premarket.
Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACUR) said the Food and Drug
Administration agreed to further review a recent study of the
company's abuse deterrent technology and provide a definitive
response on whether the results will be considered acceptable for
submission in a new drug application. The company's shares jumped
12% to $1.90 premarket.
QEP Resources Inc. (QEP) agreed to acquire oil and gas
properties in the Permian Basin for roughly $950 million, a move
that is expected to diversify the company's exploration and
production footprint. The company also is planning to divest itself
of a number of noncore exploration-and-production assets in the
Midcontinent region during the first half of next year. Shares rose
3.3% to $32.46 premarket.
Drilling-services company Layne Christensen Co. (LAYN) swung to
a steeper-than-expected fiscal third-quarter loss as it posted red
ink in its mineral services and geoconstruction segments. Shares
dropped 4.5% to $15.02 premarket.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved on Friday a new
treatment for hepatitis C infections that promises to cure more
patients in a fraction of the time required by current therapies,
while giving Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) a potential blockbuster.
Shares of Gilead rose 4.1% to $77 in premarket trading.
Intellectual-property firm Spherix Inc. (SPEX) sued AT&T
Inc. (T), claiming the telecommunications company was violating one
of its patents. Spherix shares jumped 12% to $9.75 in premarket
trading.
Watch List:
Forest City Enterprises Inc. (FCEA, FCEB) swung to a fiscal
third-quarter profit on a gain tied to a joint venture, while funds
from operations swung to a loss on project costs. The owner of
high-profile commercial and residential properties in cities
including New York, Boston and Philadelphia has reported mixed
results in recent quarters.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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