>>> Telenor seen as better prepared for M&A activity after state gains approval

Telenor seen as better prepared for M&A activity after state gains approval to reduce its stake 

Telenor is seen as better prepared for M&A activity after the Norwegian parliament approved a possible reduction of the state's stake in the Norwegian telco, according to Finansavisen.

The Norwegian business daily cited a Carnegie analyst who said that the government is not likely in a hurry to reduce the stake but being able to sell shares gives Telenor the possibility to use its own shares in M&A situations.

When asked where these opportunities might occur, he said that the Indian market is very much in need of consolidation and also pointed to the recent rumours regarding possible talks between Telenor and Indian Tata Teleservices.

The paper reported that Telenor's Asian director, Sigve Brekke, said late last year that the company has long-term plans in India.

Meanwhile, an ABG Sundal Collier analyst did not think a stake reduction will occur in the immediate future either selling directly or via a merger takes time to consider and prepare. He was also sceptical to Telenor participating in a larger deal in India.

Finansavisen

(BFW) Facebook Abuses ‘Quasi-Monopoly’ Status on User Data: Lawmaker

Facebook Abuses ‘Quasi-Monopoly’ Status on User Data: Lawmaker
2015-01-29 13:43:33.53 GMT


By Stephanie Bodoni
(Bloomberg) -- Facebook is “abusing” its almost dominant
position and processes its users’ personal data without consent
to develop new business models, says Jan Philipp Albrecht, the
lead EU lawmaker on plans for new data protection rules.
* What Facebook is doing is “pure blackmail and isn’t in line
with EU data protection rules,” says Albrecht in e-mailed
statement on Thursday, commenting on Facebook’s revamped
policy for handling users’ photos and data
* Data protection watchdogs must “speedily” urge Facebook to
find an “acceptable regulation,” Albrecht says
* Facebook’s changes would give the company the right to use
information and images for commercial purposes; changes were
delayed until Jan. 30 from the start of the year
* SEE: Facebook’s Privacy Policy Reviewed by Hamburg Data
Regulator NSN NIW6EK6JIJVN<GO>
* SEE: Facebook Follows Google as Dutch Watchdog Probes
Privacy NSN NGOS3Q6TTDSH<GO>


For Related News and Information:
First Word scrolling panel: FIRST<GO>
First Word newswire: NH BFW<GO>

To contact the reporter on this story:
Stephanie Bodoni in Luxembourg at +352-22-9999-5270 or
sbodoni@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Anthony Aarons at +44-20-3525-2227 or
aaarons@bloomberg.net

>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance: MLNX +13.9%, COH +7%, NSPH +6.5%, (also announced that it has received a warning letter from the FDA resulting from inspections of its facility in Northbrook, Illinois by the FDA's Chicago District Office that occurred in March 2014), CTXS +6.4%, (also announced the implementation of a restructuring program designed to increase strategic focus and operational efficiency), NOW +6.4%, FLEX +6%, KATE +5.1% (announces plan to focus investment on kate spade new york; guides FY14 and FY15), EXTR +4.3%, AZPN +4.2%, (light volume), DOW +4.2%, DEO +4%, CAVM +3.8%, DB +3.8%, RDY +3.4%, LVS +3.2%, ISIL +3.2%, (light volume), PENN +3.2%, SHOR +3.1%, CMPR +2.6%, POT +2.6%, CL +2.6%, HAR+2.5%, SWK +2.3%, HP +2.2%, F +2%, BEAV +1.7%, BX +1.6%, CRR +1.5%, VLO +1.4%, MEOH +1.3%, VAR +1.2%, CHKP +1.2%, HOLX +1.1%, SSLT +1.1%, GFF +1%, FLS +0.9%, MD +0.9%, MJN +0.9%, CELG +0.9%, PSX +0.9%, RCI +0.8%, JBLU +0.8%

Other news: XNCR +27.1% (eports top-line XmAb5871 Phase 1b/2a results; showing promising clinical activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis), BLDP +10.4% (wins European Union funding for 21 fuel cell buses), VVUS +6.4% (European Commission has amended the marketing authorization for SPEDRA), PSTI +5.9% (cont strength), NBG +5.8% (rebounding after recent weakness), CBRX+5.3% (Chairman Stephen G. Kasnet does not intend to stand for reelection to the Board when his current term expires at the next annual shareholder meeting), BXE +4.3% (updated 2015 net capital budget and operational outlook), ANTH +3.6% (entered into Subscription Agreements with Zenyaku Kogyo and Amgen (AMGN) with respect to a registered direct offering of ~3.2 mln shares of the Company's common stock), MCD +3% (Announced that Don Thompson will retire as President, CEO, and as a member of the Board, effective March 1; Board has elected Steve Easterbrook to replace Thompson as President and CEO), AVP +2.7% (named James S. Scully Chief Financial Officer), FXCM +2.5% (cont pre-mkt vol), SLXP +1.3% (provides update on Audit Committee review; aggregate impact of errors on net product revenue and net income over all previously reported periods affected by the restatements is a decrease of approximately $20.7 mln and $11.9 mln, respectively), MX +1.1% (updates timeline for restatement; expects to file late quarterly and annual reports during the week of February 9, 2015, but no later than February 13, 2015), AZN +1% (announces four research collaborations aimed at harnessing the power of CRISPR), RDHL +0.9% (provides update on progress with RHB-104 ongoing Phase III program)

Analyst comments: TI +3.7% (added to Focus list at Goldman), CYOU +1.9% (upgraded to Overweight from Underweight at HSBC ), AAPL +0.5% (target raised to $135 from $125 at Argus)

>>> US Gapping down

Gapping down
In reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: ATK -37.5%, CLB -15.5%, QCOM -8.3%, BABA -6%, QRVO -5.7%, VRTX -5.4%, (light volume), FTNT -5.4%, DWCH -5%, RCL -4.3%, GLOP -3.2%, EPD -2.9%, RDS.A -2.8%, TGI -2.7%, HSY -2.7%, ALXN -2.1%, QGEN -1.7%, PRXL -1.7%, RGLD -1.7%, BBD -1.6%, RTN -1.5%, ALGT -1.4%, KEX -1.3%, COLB -1.3%, FB -1.2%,ITG -1.2%, NOK -1%, TSCO -0.9%

Select metals/mining stocks trading lower: HMY -4%, DRD -3.8%, AG -3.8%, SLW -3.4%, GFI -3.2%, SVM -2.9%, GG -2.8%, HL -2.8%, AUY -2.7%, SLV -2.6%, SSRI -2.4%, GOLD -2.2%

Other news: APPY -70.6% (announces the FDA has determined that the APPY1 Test does not meet the criteria for substantial equivalence), GEVO -21.9% (intends to offer and sell common stock units; size not disclosed), HNR -20.5% (announces that its affiliates have withdrawn without prejudice a Request for Arbitration against the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela),YHOO -5.5% (following BABA earnings), EXK -5.4% (updates NI 43-101 silver and gold reserve and resource estimates for its mines and exploration project in Mexico), MPET -4.9% (provides update on its CO2-enhanced oil recovery pilot at Poplar Dome in Montana), FRO -4.3% (announces the second amended and restated equity distribution agreement), REXR -3.1% (announces offering; 10 mln shares of common stock), TSM -3.1% (following QCOM results), PRE -3% (announced that during the January 1, 2015 treaty renewal season it expects to write and bind approximately $2.7 billion of Non-Life treaty premium), XNPT -2.7% (intends to offer $100 mln aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2022 in a private placement; disclosed that it expects to report that it had $102.1 mln of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2014), MRTX -1.8% (intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering; size not disclosed; disclosed that it estimates its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were ~$29.3 mln as of December 31, 2014)

Analyst comments: PBR -5.3% (downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at HSBC Securities), VIP -0.9% (downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank), HSBC -0.6% (downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Exane BNP Paribas)