Today’s day trader and active trader alerts are moving some on earnings and some on other news. The big pre-market movers seen early this morning are Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Blue Coat Systems (NASDAQ: BCSI), BP plc (NYSE: BP), CKX Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES), Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), Mentor Graphics Corp. (NASDAQ: MENT), OmniVision Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), and Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS). We have outlined the basic news and an explanation on each where applicable.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is benefiting from the international launch of the iPad (hopefully it has more supplies there, because it is unavailable at many U.S. stores). Shares are indicated to be up by over 2% at $258.75 on almost 500,000 shares.
Blue Coat Systems (NASDAQ: BCSI) is down sharply this morning after earnings. It was actually guidance that whacked the shares, and it appears after reviewing analyst comments this morning that it is orders plummeting in the EMEA region offsetting firm orders in Asia and the Americas. Shares are trading down almost 20% at $23.26 on almost 150,000 shares.
BP plc (NYSE: BP) first appeared to have stopped the well leak with its top-kill and now the reports are that it is unclear if the effort will hold. BP shares are trading lower in the U.S.-traded ADRS by 3.6% at $43.72.
CKX Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE) is seeing super-thin volume, but the report from the WSJ is that Simon Fuller, creator of the “Idol” shows, and former Barclays Capital banker Roger Jenkins are about to bid $600 million for CKX with the source being “people familiar with the matter.” That compares to a market cap of $402 million as of Thursday. Again, super-thin trading here. Shares closed at $4.32 and are indicated up around $5.40.
Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) reported a 55% earnings jump, but the company lowered guidance for the coming quarter and year. Shares are trading down over 4% at $36.50 on about 30,000 shares.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX) said that it handled 14% fewer tax filings during the latest tax season, which is a smaller decline than had been previously forecast. Shares are trading higher by 9% at $1.76 but on very thin trading volume.
Mentor Graphics Corp. (NASDAQ: MENT) is the newest Carl Icahn target with a 6.9% stake. Icahn reportedly wants to discuss the business and operations with the management of the chip software design maker. Shares are trading up over 5% at $9.51 on almost 30,000 shares.
OmniVision Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI) said it posted a profit and saw a large gain in sales and margins as those tiny cameras for phones and devices keep selling. There was also a Needham upgrade and shares are indicated up by about 11% at $20.25 on over 100,000 shares.
Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) Phase III data on its Avanafil for erectile dysfunction being presented at the AUA 2010 annual meeting has shares higher this morning. VIVUS is trading up 2% at $12.34 on almost 50,000 shares.
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JON C. OGG
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