>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance:
  • AVXS +11.3%, FATE +7.8%, VSLR +7.3%, OMER +6%, ADBE +5.2%, FF +4.9%, CATB +4.1%, TIF +3.5%
  • AGRO +3.3%, MNKD +2.9%, STLD +2.7%, STNG +2.3%, CALA +1.1%, ONCS +0.8%, WLB +0.5%
M&A news:
  • CLBS +47.5% (sells stake in PCT to Hitachi Chemical for $75 mln; also reported earnings)
  • THLD +39.4% (will merge with Molecular Templates in an all-stock transaction)
  • NSAT +14.9% (announces Privet Fund Management provided a non-binding letter of interest to acquire NSAT for $10.25/share - shares halted)
Select shipping related names showing strength:
  • ESEA +9.1%, TOPS +7.7%, DCIX +4.3%, DRYS +2.7%, STNG +2.3%
Other news:
  • GALE +21.1% (presents final analysis from the GALE-301 (E39) investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2a clinical trial)
  • ABUS +8.8% (Licenses to Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) its proprietary lipid nanoparticle technology for exclusive use in one of Alexion's rare disease programs)
  • FNJN +8.1% (Positive patent ruling)
  • VRX +4.4% (ValueAct adds 3 mln shares, now holds 5.2% stake)
  • GOOS +4% (Positive Jim Cramer mention)
  • AUPH +2.3% (To present 48-week results from its AURION open-label study of voclosporin for the treatment of lupus nephritis at the International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on March 27)
  • AGRX +1.9% (Announces a poster presentation of data from the SECURE Phase 3 clinical trial for its lead product candidate, Twirla; plans to resubmit its new drug application in the first half of 2017)
  • NVDA +1% (continued strength)
  • TSLA +1% (prices upsized 1.34 mln common stock offering at $262/share)
Analyst comments:
  • FIVN +2.8% (upgraded to Overweight from Sector Weight at Pacific Crest)
  • RBS +2.5% (upgraded to Buy from Reduce at Natixis)
  • DF +2.3% (upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan)
  • HIMX +1.8% (upgraded to Buy from Neutral at ROTH Capital)
  • BCS +1.1% (upgraded to Overweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley)
  • PUK +1.1% (upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan)
  • BHP +1% (upgraded to Buy from Hold at Investec)