M&A news: GAME +3.1% (Shanda Games announces formation of a special committee to evaluate non-binding proposal ), NINE (enters into merger agreement for going private transaction; Parent will acquire the co for $1.80 per ordinary share), FLDM (Fluidigm to acquire DVS Sciences for ~ $207.5 mln in cash and stock).
Clean energy/battery names boosted by State of the Union address comments: PLUG +5.2%, CLNE +4.2%, FCEL +3.5%, WPRT +2.1%, HYGS +0.7% (has been awarded two contracts for fueling stations in the United Kingdom), .. Solar names also higher: JKS +3.3%, CSIQ +1.7% (selected as the sole photovoltaic module supplier for a 2.1MW solar power plant at the Delhi International Airport in India), TSL +1.6%, YGE +1.5%, SPWR +1%, FSLR +0.3%
Other news: VRNG +51.1% ( was awarded 1.36% royalty on Google (GOOG) ad words revenue), MDVN +16.1% (Medivation and Astellas announce final results from the Phase 3 PREVAIL trial of Enzalutamide in men with metastatic prostate cancer progressing on androgen deprivation therapy; Study demonstrates statistically significant benefits in overall survival, radiographic progression-free survival, and a delay (17 Months) in the time to initiation of chemotherapy), ONVO +13.7% (Organovo seeing early strength; disclosed first delivery of 3D liver tissue), GTXI +10.9% ( Preliminary findings from the Phase 2 clinical trial of GTx-758 in men with castration resistant prostate cancer to be presented at ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Symposium; Of the 22 patients who had completed 90 days on the trial at the time data was assembled, 91% had experienced decreases in PSA levels, with 36% exhibiting a decrease greater than 30% ), OMER +7.7% (Reports Positive Results from OMS824 Phase 2a Clinical Trial; Data expand potential indications both within schizophrenia and to other neuropsychiatric disorders ), WBAI +6.8% (500.Com enters into strategic partnership with China Mobile (CHL) subsidiary), BID +6.4% (announced the results of the Company's capital allocation and financial policies review that was initiated by the Board of Directors in September, 2013; Will Pay $300 Million Special Dividend to Shareholders in March), TSEM +5% ( awarded five-year multi-million dollar foundry improvement and sustainability program in partnership with US Air Force),SVA +4.3% (files clinical trial application with CFDA for its Proprietary Vaccine against Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus), TEVA +3.9% ( announces FDA approval of three-times-a-week COPAXONE (glatiramer acetate injection) 40mg/mL ), DEPO +3% (Announces Favorable Markman Ruling in GRALISE Patent Litigation), MSN +2.9% (disclosed it empowered a Special Committee to evaluate possible strategic alternatives intended to enhance stockholder value), TSRA +2.5% (Tessera Tech and Samsung enter into new patent license agreements), ALU +2.5%, NOK +1.6%, INFY +2% (still checking for anything specific), ESRX +1.7% (Tim Wentworth named President of Express Script), VOD +1.7% (China Mobile may be close to purchase stake in VOD), GOLD +1.4% (still checking), CIEN +1.4% (may be attributed to AT&T (T) CapEx update), MTSC +1.3% ( MTS Biomedical test system helping researchers discover new ways to treat spinal traumas), GHDX +1.2% (announces results of oncotype colon cancer studies; New data show real-life impact of Oncotype on treatment decisions, underscore clinical validity and utility of the test), C +1.1% (still checking),YRCW +0.8% (following 13% move higher yesterday; Moodys revised outlook to positive in late trade), HLF +0.7% (Pershing Square analyst who did work on HLF short is leaving the firm, according to reports), DMND +0.6% (Announces Proposed Refinancing), AAPL +0.6% (positive mention in Barron's).
Analyst comments: AAL +2.2% (upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill, upgraded to Outperform from Mkt Perform at Raymond James, upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Evercore), ARO +1.7% (upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman), WMT +0.9% (upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse), BX +0.8% (initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank)