U.S. HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

07/03/2012| 08:52am US/Eastern

Recommend:

0

Among the companies with shares expected to actively in Tuesday's shortened session are Microsoft Corp. (>> Microsoft Corporation), Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (>> Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.) and Duke Energy Corp. (DUK).

Chelsea Therapeutics International (>> Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.) was notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that data from the drug maker's continuing study of its Northera low-blood-pressure medication--the drug developer's lead drug candidate--is unlikely to provide enough evidence to support marketing approval for the treatment. Shares were down 55% at 66 cents premarket.

Microsoft Corp. (>> Microsoft Corporation) on Monday said it will record a $6.2 billion goodwill writedown in its online services division, to be recorded in its fiscal fourth quarter. Shares were down 23 cents at $30.33 premarket.

Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) said Progress Energy Inc.'s Bill Johnson, who had been slated to be chief executive and president of the combined company, resigned by mutual agreement and Jim Rogers will assume the role as the merger between the two utilities closed. Mr. Rogers, who originally served as Duke Energy's CEO, was initially slated to be the executive chairman of Duke Energy after the merger. Shares were down 1.7% at $68.68 premarket.

Nanosphere Inc. (>> Nanosphere, Inc.) was upgraded by Jefferies to buy from hold, as the analysts said the Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of the company's test to detect certain bacteria that can lead to life-threatening bloodstream infections removes significan operational and financial overhangs on the stock. Shares were up 7.9% at $2.72 premarket.

Watchlist:

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (>> Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.) named Jeffrey R. Leeds as its nonexecutive chairman, replacing Wesley R. Edens, who had been chairman since the company was formed and will stay on the board.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services boosted CF Industries Holdings Inc. (>> CF Industries Holdings, Inc.) into investment-grade territory, citing the fertilizer producer's recent operating performance and leverage-related metrics.

CME Group Inc. (>> CME Group Inc) saw its trading volume fall last month amid a steep decline in trading of interest-rate futures at the world's largest futures market operator.

Corporate Executive Board Co. (>> The Corporate Executive Board Company) has agreed to acquire privately held U.K.-based talent-testing company SHL for $660 million in cash as it seeks to expand its market.

Jaguar Mining Inc. (JAG, JAG.T) said Rogerio Fernandes, its chief operating officer, will resign due to health reasons, adding to a senior management shakeup at the Brazilian gold producer.

LCA-Vision Inc. (>> LCA-Vision Inc.) said laser-vision-correction procedures rose 2.4% during the second quarter as the economy shows signs of a slow recovery.

Penson Worldwide Inc. (>> Penson Worldwide, Inc.) named Vice Chairman Daniel P. Son as interim chief executive, succeeding Philip A. Pendergraft, who is retiring as CEO and as a board member.

SourceFire Inc. (>> Sourcefire, Inc.) said its chief executive officer, John Burris, has taken a medical leave of absence to undergo treatment for colon cancer and said it expects second-quarter results to be at the high end of or exceeding its expectations.

TranSwitch Corp. (>> TranSwitch Corporation) has named a new board chairman, and unveiled a restructuring plan aimed at saving $8 million in employee-related costs and other areas.

-Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com

0