Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Pandora Media Inc. (P), ING Groep NV (ING,
INGA.AE) and Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Ltd. (FSR).
Pandora reported its fiscal second-quarter loss widened as costs
outpaced revenue growth. But the Internet radio firm also raised
its financial guidance and posted encouraging numbers for its
mobile advertising efforts. On an adjusted, per-share basis,
Pandora posted a break-even second quarter, while an adjusted loss
had been expected. Shares rose 16% to $11.65 in premarket
trading.
ING agreed to sell its ING Direct Canada unit to Bank of Nova
Scotia (BNS, BNS.T) for 3.13 billion Canadian dollars, or $3.17
billion, the latest in a string of big purchases by the Canadian
bank and its largest-ever takeover. ING shares rose 3.9% to $7.46
premarket as it was widely seen the bank would use the funds from
the sale to repay the state and plug a capital shortfall at its
insurance business.
Shares of Flagstone jumped 18% to $8.30 in premarket trading as
the company said it has reached an agreement to be acquired by
reinsurance and insurance provider Validus Holdings Ltd. (VR). The
deal, which the companies valued at $623.2 million, represents a
19% premium to Wednesday's close and is expected to be completed in
the fourth quarter.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) will replace Sears Holdings
Corp. (SHLD) in the S&P 500 index after the market close on
Sept. 4, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC said. LyondellBasell shares
rose 5% premarket to $49.24, while Sears shares slipped 4.1% to
$55.10.
Vera Bradley Inc.'s (VRA) fiscal second-quarter earnings slipped
1.9% as margins weakened, though revenue improved. Shares sank 8.6%
to $21.58 premarket as earnings fell short of the handbag maker's
expectations and as the company lowered its full-year guidance.
TiVo Inc.'s (TIVO) fiscal second-quarter loss widened, as the
digital-video-recorder company's higher expenses masked continued
growth in its subscriber base. However, shares jumped 3.6%
premarket to $9.70 on the improved subscriber rolls and lower churn
rates.
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) filed with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration for orphan drug status for its aplastic anemia
treatment. Shares of the Israel-based drug developer, which focuses
on placenta-based cell therapies, rose 2.3% to $4.03 in premarket
trading.
Ampal-American Israel Corp. (AMPL, AMPL.TV), a company that buys
interests in businesses located in Israel or that are
Israel-related, said it's filed a petition for Chapter 11
reorganization in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District
of New York. The company said it has been seeking to negotiate
agreements with its creditors for eight months. Shares fell 53% to
$1.32 in premarket trading.
Ciena Corp.'s (CIEN) fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed slightly
as the networking-equipment company saw strong revenue growth,
buoyed by its packet-optical transport segment. Still, shares sank
10% to $15.05 premarket as earnings missed Wall Street
expectations.
Oxford Industries Inc.'s (OXM) fiscal second-quarter earnings
jumped 93% as the apparel company reported strong sales gains at
Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer. However, shares fell 5.1% to $50
premarket as the company offered guidance for the current quarter
below analyst expectations.
Genetic Technologies Ltd. (GENE, GTG) filed a patent
infringement suit against Reproductive Genetics Institute Inc. over
the diagnostics company's non-coding DNA technologies. Shares fell
5.6% to $3.71 premarket.
Watchlist:
CareFusion Corp. (CFN) said it will delay filing its annual
earnings report for the latest fiscal year with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to discuss the medical-device company's
accounting policy for sales-type leases in its Pyxis
dispensing-product line.
Casella Waste Systems Inc.'s (CWST) fiscal first-quarter loss
widened as recycling-commodity prices weakened and special-waste
volumes at its western New York landfills continued to decline.
Christopher & Banks Corp.'s (CBK) fiscal second-quarter loss
narrowed amid lower overhead costs and a benefit related to
restructuring charges. The company reported better-than-expected
margins and predicted same-store sales growth in coming
quarters.
Restaurant chain Chuy's Holdings Inc.'s (CHUY) second-quarter
income soared in its first earnings release as a public company,
with same-store sales growth boosting revenue.
Flow International Corp.'s (FLOW) fiscal first-quarter profit
soared as the maker of industrial water-jet machines posted
double-digit growth in its core business. Revenue exceeded analyst
expectations.
Greif Inc.'s (GEF) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 39% as the
packaging company faced weaker demand and lost income due to
currency conversion.
Fitch Ratings raised its outlook on Ingredion Inc. (INGR) to
positive from stable, pointing to the food-ingredient company's
significant progress integrating its National Starch purchase and
strong earnings since the acquisition.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires