>>> Nucor -- Additional color on lowered guidance --> -2.58% Pre-Market

Nucor -- Additional color on lowered guidance
As a follow-up to our 9:01 comment, steel producer Nucor guides to Q1 EPS of $0.10-0.15, well below the $0.40 CapitalIQ cosnensus. This range is below the qualitative guidance provided ont he Q4 call: "We currently expect that Q1 earnings will decrease from Q4 to a level slightly exceeding 1Q14."

Overall operating performance at the steel mills segment for Q1 is expected to decrease significantly compared to Q4 primarily due to lower selling prices and margins resulting from what the company describes as "the exceptionally high level of imports flooding the domestic market." Total imports increased 38% in 2014 compared to 2013, with imports accounting for approximately 34% of the total domestic shipments in 2014. Import levels gained momentum throughout 2014, as the imports in 2H14 were 10% higher than 1H14. This trend has continued in 2015, with January total imports accounting for approximately 39% of total January domestic shipments.

Although all steel prices are being driven lower by imports, the sheet market is experiencing the greatest impact. Published index pricing indicates that hot-band prices at the end of 2014 decreased 11% from its peak level in 3Q14. Through mid-March 2015, hot-band pricing has decreased an additional 19% from the end of 2014. Co expects that steel mill margins for all products should improve in 2Q15 as the co begins to realize the benefits of lower raw materials costs and selling prices begin to stabilize.

Conditions remain challenging in energy markets, in which the collapse in oil prices and continued high levels of imported OCTG products has caused an inventory glut in the pipe and tube sector. Automotive markets remain strong and are continuing to improve. Co continues to see improving demand in the nonresidential construction markets. Once energy market steel inventories are rebalanced later this year, co expects overall steel demand to meet or exceed levels seen in 2014...NUE currently trading at 48.05 (-2.5%)

-->This is not entirely surprise as STLD guided below consensus after the close on Tuesday. Other steel producers to watch include: AKS, CMC, MT, SCHN, X. Steel processors to watch: ROCK, RS, RYI, WOR, ZEUS.

>>> Potash target lowered to $32 at Miller Tabak -- Effective tax hike + lower-t


--> POT -4.27% Pre-Market

Potash target lowered to $32 at Miller Tabak -- Effective tax hike + lower-than-expected Chinese potash contract cuts FY16 potential

Miller Tabak lowers their POT tgt to $32 from $36; they cut FY:16E by $0.10sh, which incorporates a $0.06sh hit from the new Saskatchewan tax guidelines for the treatment of capital expenditures plus news of a potential H1:15 Chinese potash price contract. The valuation case for shares of POT is not only impacted by a reduced earnings outlook but also from the negative implications of a sudden change in the government's approach to the potash mining sector. They could see shares trade into the $30-31sh range (implied forward dividend yield of 5%) if investors demand greater yield protection in light of weakening potash fundamentals and shifting Canadian tax policy.

>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance: APPS +12.1%, (guidance) NQ +10.9%, HIIQ +10%, SCVL +10%, GES +9%, SFS +8.4%, FLML +6.4%, (guidance) CAPR +4.9%, VNCE +2.9%, CTAS +2.3%, MCS +2.3%, LEN +2%, MIK +1.2%, TLYS +0.6%

Other news: FOLD +22.8% (announces positive global regulatory updates from EMA and FDA meetings for Fabry Monotherapy), CBMX +14.4% (entered into a contractual agreement with InterWest Health), SMLR +12.3% (announces receipt of 510(k) marketing clearance from the FDA for its next generation peripheral artery disease testing system), HRTX+10.8% (announces positive results from a Phase 1 clinical study of HTX-011), CNDO +8.7% (announces the execution of an exclusive license agreement with NeuPharma), SYN +7.1% (announces positive pharmacokinetics results from both the Phase 1a and 1b studies of SYN-004), WYY +3.1% (announces that its subsidiary iSYS LLC has received a Task Order renewal from the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters and a new Task Order from OBIM ), MTL +2.4% (follow-on strength from yday), RAD +2% (announced intention to offer $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2023 in connection with acquisition of EnvisionRx), LBIO +2% (favorable commentary on Wednesday's Mad Money), ESPR +1.2% (prices 1,750,000 shares of its common stock at $100.00 per share), PLKI +1% (favorable commentary on Wednesday's Mad Money), RCPT +0.9% (favorable commentary on Wednesday's Mad Money), CELG +0.8% (announced that results from a phase 2 trial of three doses of GED-0301 in patients with active Crohn's disease were published in the March 19 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine)

Analyst comments: BIIB +1.2% (target raised to $500 from $400 at Credit Suisse), CYT +1.1% (upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup), WYNN +0.9% (initiated with a Buy at Brean Capital), CERN +0.8% (upgraded to Outperform at Robert W. Baird
)

>>> US Gapping down

Gapping down
In reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: RMGN -4%, GOMO -3.2%, CCG -2.5%, NVRO -1.7%, JUNO -1.3%, JBL -1.1%, SLW -1.1%

Select metals/mining stocks trading lower: AUY -2.4%, HMY -2.2%, MT -1.9%, SLV -1.1%, GDX -1.1%, FCX -1%

Select oil/gas related names showing early weakness: PBR -2.7%, WLL -2.6%, SDRL -2.6%, BAS -2.1%, SLB -1.7%, COP -1.6%, HAL -1.4%

Other news: SIGA -15.9% (announced it received a NASDAQ delisting notification), NBG -6.6% (local Greece reports of increased outflows from the banking system), CNCE -5.3% (announces proposed public offering of common stock), TKMR -5.1% (is offering to sell 6 mln common shares in an underwritten public offering), CLF -3.9% (announces proposed offering of $500,000,000 senior secured notes due 2020), HRZN -3.8% (announces a proposed underwritten primary offering of 2 mln shares of its common stock and a concurrent underwritten secondary offering of 380k shares of its common stock by a selling stockholder), RIG -3.7% (provides fleet summary), HK -3.7% (disclosed that on March 18, 2015, it entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with various 'Managers' under which it may sell up to $150 mln of common stock), PDCE -3.6% (prices 3.48 mln shares of its common stock for total gross proceeds of ~$179 mln), GARS -2.7% (announces public offering of 809,990 shares of common stock by selling stockholders ), WG -2.2% (following 50% drop yesterday), DGX -1.8% (announced pricing of $250 mln of 6.950% senior notes due 2037), EQY -1.6% (announces offering of 3.9 mln shares of common stock), SNY -1.6% (announces top-line results for cardiovascular outcomes study of Lyxumia), RTRX -1.5% (prices public offering of 6.84 mln shares of common stock at $19/share), MNST -1.2% (disclosed that on March 12, 2015, it entered into a letter agreement with Mark J. Hall, confirming his position change from Chief Brand Officer to Chief Marketing Officer effective as of January 1, 2015)

Analyst comments: CHK -3.2% (downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Sterne Agee), EBAY -2.9% (downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray), SWN -2.8% (downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Sterne Agee), WSM -2.8% (downgraded to Hold from Buy at BB&T Capital Mkts), DAN -0.8% (downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays), ZMH -0.8% (downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies)
.

>>> US Early premarket gappers

Early premarket gappers
Gapping up: NQ +10.9%, GES +10.5%, SCVL +10%, SFS +8.4%, SYN +7.1%, HIIQ +4.2%, KORS +3.6%, VNCE +2.9%, CTAS +2.3%, GFI +2.2%, STO +2.1%, IAG +2%, LEN +2%, WG +1.9%, RAD +1.9%, UAL +1.2%, PLUG +1.2%, MIK +1.2%, RCL +1.1%, BABA +1.1%, JBLU +0.8%, TLYS +0.6%, AMAG +0.5%, RENN +0.4%

Gapping down: SIGA -8.4%, TKMR -5.9%, NBG -5.8%, PDCE -5%, WSM -4.3%, RMGN -4%, HK -3.7%, PBR -3.4%, CNCE -3.3%, GARS -3.3%, AUY -3.3%, GOMO -3.2%, CHK -3%, CCG -2.5%, RIG -2.4%, TTM -2.4%, EBAY -2.4%, RTRX -2.4%, WLL -2.3%, EQY -2.2%, ESPR -2.1%, UN -1.9%, STEM -1.9%, DGX -1.8%, NVRO -1.7%, BAS -1.6%, FMS-1.5%, NOK -1.5%, BUD -1.4%, INFY -1.4%, SLB -1.3%, GDX -1.3%, SDRL -1.3%, JUNO -1.3%, MNST -1.2%, HAL -1.2%, SLV -1.2%, COP -1.2%, FCX -1.2%, LPSN -1.1%, SLW -1.1%, HRZN -1%, JBL -1%

(BFW) *SAWIRIS: LAFONT, REITZLE TO ENSURE HOLCIM/LAFARGE SUCCESS

BN 03/19 11:32 *SAWIRIS SAYS LAFONT WAS KEY TO THE SUCCESS SINCE LAST YEAR
BN 03/19 11:31 *SAWIRIS PRAISES LAFONT'S WORK ON EXCEEDING SYNERGY PLANS
BN 03/19 11:31 *SAWIRIS: HOPES PLANNED AGREEMENT TO REFLECT MERGER OF EQUALS
BN 03/19 11:30 *SAWIRIS: LAFONT TO PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN CREATING CEMENT LEADER
BN 03/19 11:30 *SAWIRIS: CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR LAFONT TO PLAY MAJOR ROLE
BFW 03/19 11:30 *SAWIRIS, 2ND BIGGEST LAFARGE SHAREHOLDER, SPEAKS IN INTERVIEW
BN 03/19 11:30 *SAWIRIS: LAFONT, REITZLE TO ENSURE HOLCIM/LAFARGE SUCCESS
*SAWIRIS: LAFONT, REITZLE TO ENSURE HOLCIM/LAFARGE SUCCESS
2015-03-19 11:30:19.868 GMT

--GAURAV PANCHAL

-0- Mar/19/2015 11:30 GMT

(BFW) *HABITAT HIRES EX-MINISTER MONTEBOURG AS VICE-CHAIRMAN: LE MONDE

BFW 03/19 10:55 *HABITAT HIRES EX-MINISTER MONTEBOURG AS VICE-CHAIRMAN: LE MONDE
Habitat Hires Ex-Minister Montebourg as Vice-Chairman: Le Monde
2015-03-19 11:00:30.895 GMT


By Steve Rhinds
(Bloomberg) -- Habitat, the home furnishings store owned by
Cafom, named former French Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg as
vice-chairman of its supervisory board, daily newspaper Le Monde
reports.
* Montebourg says he will work on “all subjects linked to
innovation”: Le Monde
* Montebourg won’t be an Habitat employee, but he will be paid
for his work along with the other five members of the
supervisory board, Cafom CEO says: Le Monde


Link to Company News:{CAFO FP <Equity> CN <GO>}

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

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Steve Rhinds at +33-1-5365-5072 or
srhinds@bloomberg.net

>>> CGG: Anadarko (APC) awards CGG the largest proprietary 3D marine seismic sur

CGG: Anadarko (APC) awards CGG the largest proprietary 3D marine seismic survey in Colombia
CGG announced that it has been awarded a contract by a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum (APC) to acquire and process a 16,314-km2 3D seismic survey on the Caribbean coast offshore Colombia. The survey will be the largest marine seismic program ever acquired in Colombia and follows CGG's successful completion of Anadarko's 5,500-km2 3D Fuerte survey offshore Colombia in 2013.
  • The survey, covering portions of the Col-1 and Col-2 blocks, will be acquired by the Oceanic Sirius and Oceanic Vega. These environmentally certified vessels are the flagships of CGG's seismic fleet. Each vessel will tow a 12 x 120 x 8,100 m spread using Sercel's Sentinel steerable solid streamers and CGG's proprietary DovetailTM efficient acquisition solution designed to achieve more regular sampling and reduce infill.
  • The survey will start in the second quarter of 2015, subject to regulatory approval. The survey data will be processed in CGG's Houston subsurface imaging center.