11:53 am European Markets Closing Prices (:SUMRX) : European markets are now closed; stock markets across Europe performed as follows:

• UK's FTSE:+1.0%
• Germany's DAX:+0.5%
• France's CAC:+0.7%
• Spain's IBEX:+0.4%
• Portugal's PSI:+2.1%
• Italy's MIB Index:+1.2%
• Irish Ovrl Index:-0.6%
• Greece ASE General Index: -0.3%

11:52 am Albemarle issues response regarding facility incident in Pasadena, Texas (ALB) :

• Co confirms that incident did not occur on its facility
• Occurred on SunEdison's (SUNE) facility

11:52 am Stocks/ETFs that traded to new 52 week highs/lows this session - New lows (437) outpacing new highs (11) (SCANX) : Stocks that traded to 52 week highs: CUBE, FCVA, HRB, JE, LKOR, PULB, SLP, TACT, TYL, UCBA, ULBI

Stocks that traded to 52 week lows: A, AAVL, ABAC, ACAT, ACPW, ACTA, ADAP, ADSK, ADT, AEGR, AFT, AGTC, AI, AIMC, AIN, AIRM, AIT, AJX, ALDX, AMBC, AMG, ANGO, ANH, APAM, ARDC, ARNA, ARTW, ASCMA, ASEI, ASTE, ASYS, AT, ATRO, AVID, AVK, AVL, AXE, AXLL, BAS, BAX, BBBY, BBEP, BBRG, BBT, BCC, BCEI, BDC, BDE, BEL, BEN, BGT, BGX, BKE, BLIN, BLT, BLX, BOBE, BOI, BOJA, BRKR, BSL, BSPM, BUFF, BV, BW, BWINB, BZH, CATB, CBK, CBL, CCCR, CDI, CDRB, CF, CFX, CG, CGG, CGI, CGNT, CIF, CIT, CKH, CLMS, CMA, CMI, CMLS, CNA, CNS, CNSL, CNV, COG, COHR, CPSI, CRR, CSG, CSLT, CSPI, CST, CTG, CTL, CUB, CVGI, CYCC, DAR, DCA, DCIX, DDD, DDS, DE, DEL, DEX, DFS, DHG, DHRM, DISCA, DISCK, DNAI, DO, DSCI, DSL, DSU, DX, ECC, ECHO, EFF, EHI, EMG, EMO, EMR, ENTL, ENV, ERA, ESL, ESV, EV, EYES, FAST, FBRC, FCO, FDEU, FDML, FEIC, FENX, FHY, FLDM, FLR, FLXN, FNGN, FNSR, FOE, FORR, FOSL, FRGI, FSTR, FWM, FWRD, GARS, GBL, GCO, GDL, GDO, GEN, GEOS, GHL, GI, GKOS, GLBL, GLDD, GLO, GLYC, GMLP, GMT, GNK, GNRC, GPS, GPT, GRIF, GRMN, GSIT, GSVC, GVA, HCCI, HCLP, HGR, HGSH, HOS, HSNI, HSTM, HTR, HWAY, HWCC, HY, HYB, HYF, HYI, I, IBM, ICFI, IDN, IDT, IGA, IGT, IID, IILG, IMMY, IMN, INO, IR, IRC, IRDM, ISH, ITT, IVZ, JASN, JBHT, JEC, JGH, JOY, JRI, JSD, JVA, JW.A, KAMN, KEG, KERX, KEYW, KHI, KKD, KND, KNX, KSS, KTOS, KYN, L, LADR, LDP, LECO, LITE, LM, LMNR, LOCO, LORL, LPLA, LPSN, LUK, LWAY, LXU, MANT, MAT, MBUU, MC, MCRB, MED, MFRM, MG, MIND, MNKD, MOS, MPW, MS, MSM, MTB, MYRG, NANO, NAV, NAVI, NC, NCV, NCZ, NE, NES, NEWP, NHS, NM, NNI, NOR, NRX, NSL, NSM, NSPR, NTRA, NVLS, NWHM, NWS, NXTD, OCIP, OESX, OPTT, ORIG, ORN, OSGB, OTIC, OXGN, OZM, PCAR, PCH, PDFS, PEB, PEBO, PERF, PFIS, PGH, PGN, PH, PHH, PHI, PHII, PHMD, PICO, PIR, PJC, PNR, POL, POT, PRGN, PRGS, PRSN, PRU, PSIX, PTC, PTEN, PVA, QUAD, R, RAX, RBC, RCG, RCII, RDNT, RELV, RES, RESI, RF, RFP, RGLS, RIBT, RICE, RJF, RLJ, RLOC, ROG, ROK, ROYT, RRTS, RST, RTK, RXN, SAAS, SAVE, SB, SBAC, SBH, SBLK, SBRA, SCON, SEM, SF, SFE, SFLY, SFY, SGI, SGNT, SHLO, SIFY, SKBI, SKY, SLB, SLCA, SLM, SMRT, SMT, SPN, SPPI, SSE, SSYS, STDY, STT, SVU, SWFT, SYMC, SZC, TAL, TBBK, TBPH, TC, TDC, TDY, TEF, TESO, TGI, THC, THR, TIME, TIVO, TLN, TNDM, TPRE, TRCO, TROW, TTGT, TUMI, TV, TWI, UAMY, UCP, UEIC, UNT, UNTD, UNVR, USAP, UTIW, VGGL, VHI, VICL, VLT, VMI, VRNS, VRTS, VSI, VTA, VVR, WAIR, WCC, WDR, WGO, WING, WPRT, WSTC, WWD, WWW, WY, X, XHR, XRX, YPF, ZBH, ZINC

ETFs that traded to 52 week highs: IEI

ETFs that traded to 52 week lows: HYG, JNK, PPLT, UNG, XES

11:41 am Dow -90 and S&P -11 set new rebound highs but momentum is mixed as top performing Nasdaq Comp / 100 did not (:TECHX) :  

11:23 am New Residential Investment repays $2.5 bln of term notes issued by the HLSS Servicer Advance Receivables Trust (NRZ) : The $2.5 billion HSART term notes became immediately due and payable as a result of, and solely as a result of, the master servicer rating downgrade of Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (OCN)

11:18 am Market's recovery momentum slowing -- Dow -114, S&P -13, Nasdaq Comp -22 (:TECHX) : Important time after first thrust high off the low. In order to keep the firmer bias established off the low intact the indices need to see only limited and choppy pullbacks.

11:16 am Currency Commentary: Jobs Miss (:SUMRX) :

• The Dollar Index was trampled under the weight of a poor September jobs number. The BLS report saw its second healthy miss of NFP expectations in a row, and also saw flat wage growth, a dip in the Average Workweek, and the lowest participation rate in nearly 40 years. Those looking for silver linings in the report are searching for binoculars at the moment. The DXY fell over 100 pips in reaction, diving from 96.40 to 95.30 before finding support. The market focus will now turn toward Fed speakers as Mester, Bullard, and Fischer who will all be speaking later today.
• The euro rallied to 1.13 (1.1318 highs) in reaction to the dollar drop but has run into some resistance at that level. The currency has been holding a key convergence area of moving averages this week (1.1140-1.1175). This is a pattern that will continue to be watched closely.
• The pound jumped to 1.5238 but is giving up some of those gains as it slides back to test 1.52 support. Sterling is seeing its own headwinds from a decline in expectations for a rate hike.
• The yen rallied from session lows (120.40) to the 119 level in reaction to the jobs number. It would eventually rally to 118.68 on the risk off/dollar weakness trade. Marking the best level for the yen since September 8 (BONDX, FOREX).

11:12 am Further recovery for the market with Nasdaq 100 / Comp pacing the way (:TECHX) : Sector relative strength continues in Biotech IBB, Pharma PPH, Health XLV and Medical Supplies

10:57 am S&P -14 rebounds to the 50% retrace of today's range at 1907 (:TECHX) :  

10:46 am Hill International's JV with CohnReznick receives a $11.3 mln contract from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (HIL) :  

10:43 am Minor new bound highs -- Dow -153, S&P -17, Nasdaq Comp -31 (:TECHX) :  

10:39 am Stock indices edge up toward morning bounce highs -- Dow -187, S&P -22, Nasdaq Comp -45 (:TECHX) : The Nasdaq Comp has thus far held at support from The Technical at 4559/4550 (session low 4552) while the Dow has held in the 16015/16000 area (session low 16013. The S&P slipped under a secondary support (1897/1895) but did hold at the 62% retrace of this week's recovery at 1893 (session low 1893).

10:23 am Relative sector strength (:TECHX) : Sectors still in the red but displaying some relative strength vs. the S&P in recent trade include: Biotech IBB, Pharma PPH, Health XLV, Medical Supplies, Semi SMH.

10:17 am Relative sector strength (:TECHX) : Sectors on the plus side include: Gold Miners GDX, Silver SLV, Gold GLD, Casino (WYNN +13%), Solar TAN, Coal KOL

10:13 am Stock indices chopping slightly above lows -- Dow -216, S&P -26, Nasdaq Comp -66 (:TECHX) : The worst performing sectors on a percentage basis have been led by: Reg Bank KRE, Bank KBE, Broker IAI, Finance XLF, Airline JETS, Software IGV, Crude Oil USO, Internet FDN, Home Const ITB, Transports IYT.

10:02 am CBL & Assoc closes on $314.45 million of new secured non-recourse financing (CBL) : The non-recourse financing was at a weighted average interest rate of 4.07%, representing a 178 basis point improvement compared with the interest rate borne by the maturing loans. Proceeds from the loans were primarily used to repay the $275.7 million maturing loan, which bore an interest rate of 5.85%, and to repay a $38.25 million maturing loan, which bore an interest rate of 5.87%

9:52 am Stock indices slide to new session lows after limited pause -- Dow -250, S&P -29, Nasdaq Comp -71 (:TECHX) :  

9:41 am Major averages hovering slightly above fresh session lows -- Dow -223, S&P -24, Nasdaq Comp -53 (:TECHX) :  

9:39 am Opening Market Summary: Financials Pace Opening Retreat (:WRAPX) :

As expected, the major averages began the trading day on the defensive in response to a disappointing September Nonfarm Payrolls report (142,000; Briefing.com consensus 205,000). The S&P 500 trades lower by 1.3% with nine sectors showing early losses.

The financial sector (-2.5%) is the clear laggard in the early going as investors push back their rate-hike expectations. Meanwhile, six other sector show losses of 1.0% or more while the utilities space (+0.4%) outperforms, benefitting from lower yields. To that point, the 10-yr note sits on its high with the benchmark yield down 12 basis points at 1.92%.

The Factory Orders report for August will be released at 10:00 ET (expected -1.0%).

9:34 am S&P -25 and Dow -21- slide under yesterday's lows, Nasdaq Comp -65 pause slightly above (:TECHX) :  

9:31 am Thinly traded Skystar Bio Pharmaceutical provides investor update regarding delay in filing form 10-K; has conferred with appointed auditor and believes in the process of completing its audit (SKBI) :

• However, it is likely that the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015 will not be completed by the October 12, 2015 deadline provided by NASDAQ to complete those filings. Assuming that the Company is unable to file its reports by the Plan of Compliance Deadline, NASDAQ would commence delisting proceedings against the Company. If this were to happen, the Company would appeal the delisting in order to request more time to complete and file its Annual Report and Quarterly Reports and would aim to file these reports prior to the completion of the appeals process.
• Operationally, the Company is moving forward with initiatives to grow its animal pharmaceutical business through the acquisition of IP, deeper market penetration and increase sales. The Company believes that there is increasing demand for the Company's line of animal pharmaceuticals, including Western vaccines and drugs, traditional Chinese medicine, animal feed and probiotics.

9:29 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• IBM (IBM) announced that Charter Communications (CHTR) is implementing its rules-based construction workflow and tracking system in the cloud
• Acceleron Pharma (XLRN) reported that its collaboration partner, Celgene (CELG) and investigators on the sotatercept program will present preclinical and interim clinical data at the American Society of Nephrology (:ASN) Kidney Week 2015. Preliminary data from ongoing Phase 2a clinical studies of sotatercept in End-Stage Kidney Disease patients, including effects on hemoglobin, vascular calcification, bone mineral density and safety and tolerability, will be presented.
• SolarCity (SCTY) has built the world's most efficient rooftop solar panel, with a module efficiency exceeding 22%. The new SolarCity panel generates more power per square foot and harvests more energy over a year than any other rooftop panel in production, and will be the highest volume solar panel manufactured in the Western Hemisphere. SolarCity will begin producing the first modules in small quantities this month at its 100 MW pilot facility. SolarCity expects to be producing between 9,000 - 10,000 solar panels each day at full capacity.

9:27 am Stocks, yields and the dollar moving lower on worse-than-expected employment data (SPY) :

• This morning's employment data was worse-than-expected across the board, with weaker payrolls numbers, downward revisions to the past two months of payrolls, and no wage growth.
• This has resulted in weakness in stocks, the dollar and treasury yields, with strength in treasury prices and precious metals. This pushes out expectations for a potential increase in rates by the Fed.
• Market snapshot:
  • S&P 500 futures -29 (-1.5%)
  • 10-year yield -10 bps at 1.937%.
  • Dollar is weaker by 1% to $1.1300/euro.
  • Gold +20 at $1133.50; Silver +0.35 at $14.87.
  • Related stocks/ETFs:
    • Currency ETFs: UUP (Dollar ETF), FXE (Euro ETF).
    • Precious metals ETFs: GLD (gold), SLV (silver).
    • Bank ETFs: KBE (general bank ETF), KRE (regional bank ETF).
    • Pullbacks in brokerage stocks SCHW, ETFC, AMTD, IBKR, trust banks STT, NTRS, BK.

9:23 am BioAmber announces that its Sarnia joint venture with Mitsui & Co. has begun shipping bio-succinic acid to customers and is operating its manufacturing process at commercial scale (shares halted) (BIOA) : BioAmber has confirmed the performance of its proprietary yeast in the production fermenters in Sarnia. The fermentation performance achieved is significantly above the initial targets set for 2015, and the yield and productivity levels already exceed the targets the plant was designed to hit longer term.

• Initial shipments have started to customers so they can confirm the quality of the bio-succinic acid produced in the Sarnia plant. Management expects the Sarnia plant to be in commercial operation later this month and to increase production volumes progressively to reach full capacity in 2017.

9:18 am Magna agrees to acquire independent Tier 1 body-in-white supplier, Stadco Automotive; terms not disclosed, with closure expected in 4Q15 (MGA) :  

9:17 am XO Group acquires GigMasters and invests in Jetaport (XOXO) :

• Co announced the acquisition of GigMasters (transactional marketplace for entertainment) and strategic partnership with Jetaport (transactional marketplace providing discounted hotel room blocks).
• The total acquisition price for GigMasters is $8.5 mln in cash for complete ownership of the company. Prior to the acquisition, XO owned ~28% of GigMasters. The acquisition closed on October 1, 2015, and the purchase price will be recorded in XO Group's Q4 financial results. For a minority equity ownership of Jetaport, XO Group contributed $1.5 mln in cash on July 2, 2015.

9:11 am S&P futures vs fair value: -25.10. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: -56.10. (:WRAPX) :

The stock market is on track for a lower open as futures on the S&P 500 trade 25 points below fair value.

Index futures climbed overnight, showing modest gains earlier this morning, but the overnight move is now history considering futures fell to lows after the release of a Nonfarm Payrolls report for September. According to the report, only 142,000 jobs were added while the Briefing.com consensus expected a reading of 205,000. Making matters worse, the prior month's reading was revised down to 136,000 from 173,000. Furthermore, the report showed no growth in hourly earnings while the consensus expected an increase of 0.2%.

The retreat in equity futures has occurred alongside a surge in Treasuries that has sent the 10-yr yield lower by 11 basis points to 1.93%.

Given the disappointing data and the lack of wage growth, market expectations for the first rate hike are all but sure to shift into next year.

One more data point remains with the August Factory Orders report set to cross the wires (expected -1.0%) at 10:00 ET.

9:05 am PVH's Tommy Hilfiger and G-III Apparel (GIII) will collaborate on a line of women's dresses; collection should be available in select retailers in US and Canada beginning February 2016 (PVH) : Beginning February 2016, the collection will be available at select department stores, including Macy's (M), specialty stores, and e-commerce partners in the United States and Canada. The collection, including dresses and coordinating shrugs and cardigans, will have suggested retail prices from $99 to $149. The initial term of the agreement is five years with G-III having a right to renew for an additional five-year term subject to achieving certain sales levels.

9:02 am Ultragenyx Pharma files a Marketing Authorization Application with the EMA for UX001 tablets, intended for patients with GNE Myopathy (RARE) :

If a positive opinion is received from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), a decision from the European Commission would be expected in the second half of 2016.

• A Phase 3 global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of Ace-ER in approximately 80 patients was initiated in May 2015 and continues to enroll patients. The primary endpoint of the study is upper extremity muscle strength. The study was designed based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) and the EMA, and data are expected in early 2017.

9:02 am Amicus Therapeutics provides regulatory update following guidance from the FDA regarding its Migalastat Monotherapy, does not anticipate being in a position to submit the NDA for migalastat monotherapy in the US by the end of this year (FOLD) :

The co announced additional regulatory guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) on the oral small molecule pharmacological chaperone migalastat for the treatment of Fabry disease.

• Amicus has received final FDA minutes from the September pre-NDA meeting and has conducted additional follow-up interactions with the Agency this week. In conjunction with the Agency, Amicus is further evaluating several U.S. pathways including potentially generating additional data on migalastat's effect on gastrointestinal symptoms in Fabry disease to support submission requesting full approval as well as a Subpart H strategy. In addition, the Agency has requested further integration of existing clinical data across studies which will require more time to complete. Based on this guidance from the FDA, Amicus does not anticipate being in a position to submit the NDA for migalastat monotherapy in the United States by the end of this year. The timing of an NDA submission will be based on the determination of the optimal regulatory pathway.

9:02 am Delta Air Lines reports Sept PRASM -5% y/y (consistent with recent trends of pressure from foreign exchange, lower surcharges in international markets, and domestic yields) (DAL) :

• Co expects Sept qtr op margin to be 20-21% and its unit revenue to decline 4.5-5.5%. Both of these results are on the favorable end of initial guidance ranges provided by the company in July.
• September Preliminary Financial and Operating Results: consolidated PRASM -5.0% y/y; Projected September quarter fuel price per gallon, adjusted $1.80 - $1.85; September mainline completion factor 100.0%; September on-time performance (preliminary DOT A14) 90.5% 

9:01 am Con-way's Freight unit will implement a general rate increase averaging 4.9%, applicable to non-contractual business, effective October 19th (CNW) : The rate increase is intended to help offset rising costs of doing business, which include contending with the nationwide shortage of qualified truck drivers, increased regulatory compliance, higher fleet operations and revenue equipment costs, and technology upgrades which enable the company's premium service product.

9:01 am Harris & Harris receives an $800K milestone payment from the acquisition of Molecular Imprints by Canon (CAJ) (TINY) :

• Co receives payment of ~$800,000 following achievement of a certain undisclosed milestone associated with the acquisition of its former portfolio company, Molecular Imprints, by Canon (CAJ) of Tokyo, Japan, in April 2014.
• Harris & Harris Group could receive an additional $900,000 upon the achievement of an additional milestone. These proceeds and potential future proceeds are in addition to the approximately $800,000 in cash and $300,000 in stock received for the sale of the non-semiconductor business to an undisclosed privately held company in May 2015.

9:00 am BioTime to sell 1.6 mln of its common shares at $3.19/share to its largest shareholder, Broadwood Partners; expects gross proceeds ~$5.1 mln (BTX) :  

8:59 am 22nd Century Group announces the The New England Journal of Medicine has published a special article, describing a milestone study that used its Spectrum research cigarettes (XXII) :

The authors concluded that data from the study suggests, as compared with cigarettes of conventional nicotine content, 22nd Century's proprietary low nicotine SPECTRUM cigarettes were "associated with reductions in smoking, nicotine exposure, and nicotine dependence, with minimal evidence of nicotine withdrawal, compensatory smoking, or serious adverse events."

• Researchers found that during the 6th and final week of the trial, participants who were assigned 22nd Century SPECTRUM cigarettes with 0.4 mg/g nicotine smoked fewer cigarettes per day (14.9) than those assigned to their usual brand (22.2). In fact, very low nicotine cigarettes were found to reduce exposure to, and dependence on, nicotine and to reduce cravings while adverse events were generally mild and similar among groups.

8:56 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• Allergan plc (AGN) announced a multi-year research collaboration with Humana (HUM), to explore new ideas and ways to improve the health and well-being of patients, members and their caregivers. A main objective of the Allergan and Humana collaboration is to study key issues and obtain a more comprehensive understanding of opportunities for improvement in care delivery.
• FX Energy (FXEN) reported that drilling, coring, logging and testing of the Miloslaw-4k well have been completed. The well flowed gas with no observable water at a rate of 4.32 mmcfg/d on a 16/64" choke from a 41.3 meter interval in the Rotliegend sandstone. True vertical depth of the producing zone is from 3632.9 meters to 3674.2 meters, the longest producing interval of any of the Company's wells in Poland. The well is being completed and is expected to begin producing in 2016/2017.
  

8:48 am S&P futures vs fair value: -20.90. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: -43.20. (:WRAPX) :

The S&P 500 futures trade 21 points below fair value.

It was a somewhat mixed showing from markets in the Asia-Pacific region on Friday. That came after a tepid performance on Wall Street on Thursday and ahead of the U.S. employment report for September, which will carry monetary policy implications. Hong Kong's Hang Seng (+3.2%) was the clear winner as it played catch up following its closure on Thursday. China remained closed for holiday; Japan's Nikkei was flat; and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.2%.

• In economic data:
  • Japan's August Household Spending +2.5% month-over-month (expected 0.5%; prior 0.6%); +2.9% year-over-year (consensus 0.4%; last -0.2%). Separately, Monetary Base +35.1% year-over-year (consensus 34.2%; last 33.3%) and August Unemployment Rate 3.4% (expected 3.3%; last 3.3%)
  • South Korea's September CPI -0.2% month-over-month (expected 0.2%; prior 0.2%); +0.6% year-over-year (consensus 0.9%; last 0.7%)
  • Hong Kong's August Retail Sales -5.4% year-over-year (expected -4.1%; prior -2.8%)
  • Australia's August Retail Sales +0.4% month-over-month, as expected (last -0.1%) and August HIA New Home Sales +2.3% month-over-month (prior -0.4%)
  • New Zealand's ANZ Commodity Price Index +5.5% month-over-month (prior -5.2%)

------

• Japan's Nikkei eked out a 0.02% gain, aided by some late buying interest. Strength in the materials (+1.4%) and consumer staples (+1.1%) sectors was offset by weakness in the health care (-1.4%) and financials (-0.4%) sectors. The top-performing stocks were Nitto Denko Corp (+5.7%), Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co (+5.0%), and Mitsubishi Motors (+4.5%) while Maruha Nichoro Corp (-4.0%), Hitachi Zosen (-3.8%), and Fukuoka Financial Group (-3.3%) brought up the rear. Out of the 225 index members, 100 ended higher, 108 finished lower, and 7 were unchanged. For the week, the Nikkei declined 0.9%.
• Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 3.2% in a catch-up trade after being closed for a holiday on Thursday. Gains were led by Galaxy Entertainment Group (+10.2%), China Resources Land (+8.7%), and China Overseas Land & Investment (+6.8%). Out of the 50 index members, only three -- Li & Fung (-1.5%), Sun Hung Kai Properties (-0.4%), and Power Assets Holdings (-0.1%) -- ended the day lower. For the week, the Hang Seng increased 1.5%.
• China's Shanghai Composite: closed for holiday (National Day)

Major European indices have tumbled from their highs after the release of a disappointing U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report.

• Economic data was limited:
  • Eurozone August PPI -0.8% month-over-month (expected -0.6%; prior -0.1%); -2.6% year-over-year (consensus -2.4%; last -2.1%)
  • UK's September Construction PMI 59.9 (expected 57.5; last 57.3)
  • Spain's Unemployment Change 26,100 (expected 17,900; prior 21,700)

------

• UK's FTSE remains higher by 0.4% with about half of its components in the green. Financials lead with Lloyds Banking Group, Prudential, and Standard Chartered up between 2.0% and 4.0%. Homebuilders lag with Barratt Developments, Persimmon, and Travis Perkins down between 0.2% and 1.0%.
• Germany's DAX is now down 0.2% after showing a 1.5% gain earlier. Exporters BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen underperform with losses between 1.4% and 5.1%. On the upside, utilities hold gains with E.On and RWE both up near 5.5%.
• In France, the CAC hovers just above its flat line. Growth-sensitive names lead with ArcelorMittal, Total, and Bouygues up between 1.5% and 3.1%. On the flip side, Peugeot is the weakest performer, trading lower by 2.6%.

8:46 am European Markets Update: FTSE +0.4%, DAX -0.2%, CAC UNCH (:SUMRX) :

Major European indices have tumbled from their highs after the release of a disappointing U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report.

• Economic data was limited:
  • Eurozone August PPI -0.8% month-over-month (expected -0.6%; prior -0.1%); -2.6% year-over-year (consensus -2.4%; last -2.1%)
  • UK's September Construction PMI 59.9 (expected 57.5; last 57.3)
  • Spain's Unemployment Change 26,100 (expected 17,900; prior 21,700)

------

• UK's FTSE remains higher by 0.4% with about half of its components in the green. Financials lead with Lloyds Banking Group, Prudential, and Standard Chartered up between 2.0% and 4.0%. Homebuilders lag with Barratt Developments, Persimmon, and Travis Perkins down between 0.2% and 1.0%.
• Germany's DAX is now down 0.2% after showing a 1.5% gain earlier. Exporters BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen underperform with losses between 1.4% and 5.1%. On the upside, utilities hold gains with E.On and RWE both up near 5.5%.
• In France, the CAC hovers just above its flat line. Growth-sensitive names lead with ArcelorMittal, Total, and Bouygues up between 1.5% and 3.1%. On the flip side, Peugeot is the weakest performer, trading lower by 2.6%.

8:32 am Following jobs data, the dollar index dropped sharply to a new low for today, gold and silver spiked to new daily highs (Gold popped about $10, silver about $0.20) (:COMDX) :

• Dollar index is now -0.5% at 95.69
• Dec gold is +0.4% at $1118.40/oz
• Dec silver +1% at $14.65/oz

8:31 am XBiotech announces the publication of clinical results from a Phase 2 parallel-group study, examining SFA restenosis in patients following successful percutaneous revascularization (XBIT) :

Results published online as an "Article in Press" in the Journal of Vascular Surgery. The major efficacy endpoints were target vessel restenosis and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). At 3-month follow-up, which covers the intravenous dosing period, a trend toward lower incidence of restenosis (0/22 [0%] vs. 2/21 [10%], p=0.14) and MACE (2/22[9%] vs. 5/21 [24%], p=0.22) was observed in the Xilonix cohort. Adverse events were equally distributed in both arms. 

8:31 am Futures Slide After Below-Consensus September Nonfarm Payrolls...S&P futures vs fair value: -10.10. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: -14.90. (:WRAPX) :

The S&P 500 futures trade ten points below fair value.

September nonfarm payrolls came in at 142,000 while the Briefing.com consensus expected a reading of 205,000. The prior month's reading was revised down to 136,000 from 173,000. Nonfarm private payrolls added 118,000 against the 200,000 expected by the consensus. The unemployment rate held at 5.1%, which is what the Briefing.com consensus expected.

Hourly earnings were unchanged, while the consensus expected an uptick of 0.2%. The average workweek was reported at 34.5, while the consensus expected a reading of 34.6.

8:31 am Market View: Dec. eMini stock-index futures see a sharp initial move lower following the 8:30 am Et Sep. Employment Report (:TECHX) :

• ESz5 now -7
  
  
• YMz5 now -55
  
  
• NQz5 now -15

8:29 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• Incyte Corporation (INCY) announced that new data from its investigational immuno-oncology portfolio will be presented at the upcoming Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting & Associated Programs. Safety and efficacy data from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating epacadostat, Incyte's selective IDO1 inhibitor, in combination with pembrolizumab will be presented as a late-breaking oral presentation. Additionally, data from INCB50465, Incyte's selective PI3Kd inhibitor, will be presented
• Hologic (HOLX) announced that it has notified holders of the 2% Convertible Exchange Senior Notes due 2037 that they are eligible to convert the notes. The current conversion rate for the notes is 43.4216 shares of the Company's common stock per $1,000 principal amount outstanding, which is equivalent to a conversion price, as defined in the indenture, of ~$23.03 per share
• 2K, a label of Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) announced that NBA 2K16, the latest iteration of the NBA video game simulation series, has set a franchise record by selling-in over four million units within the first week of release
• IGI Laboratories (IG) announced it has submitted its ninth abbreviated new drug application (:ANDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) of 2015, which brings its total number of ANDA submissions now pending at the FDA to thirty-one.
• MagneGas Corporation (MNGA) announced that the company is open for business in North Florida through its new joint venture Company "E.S.S.I. North." This new location will expand distribution and service capability into North Florida and will significantly increase revenue opportunities. Sales have formally initiated, with final location improvements and phone lines expected October 14th and the formal grand opening planned on December 4th
• ACETO Corporation (ACET) announced that its Rising Pharmaceuticals subsidiary is launching the 1mg and 2mg strengths of Glycopyrrolate Tablets, an FDA approved generic version of Shionogi's Robinul and Robinul Forte, and the 5mg and 10mg strengths of Methimazole Tablets, an FDA approved generic version of Pfizer's (PFE) Tapazole.

8:26 am Brookfield Infrastructure renews its normal course issuer bid, for up to 8,108,091 LP Units (BIP) :  

8:14 am Gapping down (SCANX) : Gapping down
In reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: PRGS -14.2%, BOOM -2.9%

Select metals/mining stocks trading lower: AU -2.3%, GFI -1.6%, VALE -0.9%, AEM -0.7%, SLV -0.7%, GLD -0.6%, GDX -0.5%


Other news: GMCR -2.8% ( President of U.S. Sales and Marketing John Whoriskey's previously announced retirement became effective September 30 ), O -2.3% (prices 10,000,000 shares of common stock at $46.88 per share), CIVI -1.6% (prices its downsized offering of 2 mln shares on behalf of selling shareholders at $21.50/share), REGN -1.5% (announced a collaboration with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation; providing MTPC with exclusive development and commercial rights to fasinumab ), CPST -1.3% (cont weakness)

Analyst comments: VRX -2.5% (downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley), REGN -1.5% (downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley), GILD -0.5% (downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley)

8:11 am Gapping up (SCANX) : Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance: CAMP +11.2%, MU +4%, ZHNE +1.5%

M&A news: PMCS +6.8% (following late move higher on report of potential sale),STO +2.6% (acquires First Oil's 24% equity share in the UK licence for the Alfa Sentral field for $15 mln)

Select financial related names showing strength: CS +2.1%, DB +2.1%, RBS +2%, HSBC +2%, BCS +1.8%, ING +0.8%

Select notable European stocks trading higher: STM +1.9%, TS +1.8%, SAP +1.7%, ALV +1.7%, NOK +1.6%, ASML +1.6%, CCL +1.4%, SHPG +1.3%, DEO +1.1%, ARMH +1%

Select oil/gas related names showing strength: BP +3.4%, TOT +3.4%, RDS.A +3.3%, AEG +2.5%, PBR +2.4%, SDRL +2%, HAL +1.9%, RIG +1.8%, VLO +1.4%

Other news: BEBE +12.6% (announces a workforce reorganization; authorizes a$5 million share repurchase program),WYNN +7.9% (reports that Macau casinos may soon receive economic support from China),XNPT +7.8% (seeks to focus on and maximize the value of its commercial product Horizant; will discontinue development of XP23829 on its own and seek a partner ),CHRS +6.2% (Coherus BioSciences reported the results from its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic clinical study of CHS-1701, a pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) biosimilar candidate. This study met its primary PD endpoints ),LVS +5.1% (reports that Macau casinos may soon receive economic support from China),MGM +4.2% (reports that Macau casinos may soon receive economic support from China),JWN +3.6% (Nordstrom announces closing of its credit card transaction; $1.8 billion net proceeds to be returned to shareholders through dividend and share repurchase; board authorizes special cash dividend of $4.85 per share),BCOR +3% (co its InfoSpace subsidiary enter into a Mutual Termination Agreement with Yahoo! (YHOO)),NEWR +2.3% (co's Chief Revenue Officer Hilarie Koplow-McAdams promoted to the role of President),RGR +2.2% (FBI released NICS background checks data; Sept Total NICS Background Checks were 1795102 vs 1745410 prior month and 1456032 in prior year), SUNE +1.9% (cont strength),S +1.7% (plans to eliminate nearly $2.5 bln in costs, according to WSJ),SRPT +1.2% (announced a four year collaborative research agreement, to establish the Sarepta Translational Laboratory with Murdoch University in Western Australia)

Analyst comments: SUM +3.3% (upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman),FINL +1.2% (upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman),AAPL +0.7% (initiated with a Buy at Drexel Hamilton; tgt $200),GOOG +0.6% (upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer; $700 tgt),FB +0.5% (resumed with a Outperform at Wedbush; tgt $115)

8:09 am European Yields (BONDX) :

European Sovereign Debt Pulls Back

• Portugal will hold an election this weekend and markets have been expressing optimism about the result in recent weeks
  
  • Portuguese sovereign debt and equities have been expressing little concern that an anti-austerity government will take power. The 10-year sovereign yield is at 2.36%, 5 basis points above a 6-week low. The yield traded 2.72% in mid-September
  • According to polls, the center-right coalition that currently governs has a good chance at reelection, but the center-left Socialist Party is running close
    
  • Portugal has a debt/GDP ratio of roughly 1.3, at the upper range for eurozone countries, and unemployment of 11.9%
    
  • The Iberian Peninsula has been one of the bright spots in the eurozone lately, and Spain and Portugal are generally believed to need less structural reform than France or Italy
    
• The number of unemployed workers in Spain grew by a higher-than-expected 26.1K in August after climbing 21.7K in July
  
• The eurozone's producer price index fell by 0.8% m/m in August, more than expected and more than the 0.1% decline in July
  
• Markit's U.K. construction PMI soared past already high expectations, rising to 59.9 in September from 57.3 in August
  
  • Despite the very strong headline number, new business growth has been on the wane since the post-election peak
    
• Yield Check:
  
  • France, 10-yr OAT: +2 bps to 0.87%
    
  • Germany, 10-yr Bund: +2 bps to 0.56%
    
  • Greece, 10-yr note: -1 bp to 8.00%
    
  • Italy, 10-yr BTP: +2 bps to 1.71%
    
  • Portugal, 10-yr note: +3 bps to 2.36
    
  • Spain, 10-yr ODE: +10 bps to 1.86%
    
  • U.K., 10-yr Gilt: +5 bps to 1.68%

8:03 am DineEquity raises quarterly dividend 5%, boosts common share repurchase authorization to $150 mln (DIN) :

• Co announced approval by its Board of Directors of a 5% increase in the Co's quarterly cash dividend to $0.92 per share of common stock
• The Board of Directors also approved an increase in the share repurchase authorization for the Co's common stock, effective immediately, to $150 million from the remaining previous authorization of ~$63 million.
• The Co anticipates using the majority of its remaining free cash flow after dividend payments for share repurchases.

8:01 am Regulus Therapeutics to present updated data on RG-101 at The AASLD Liver Meeting, supporting its use to treat Hepatitis C (RGLS) :

Co announced that two abstracts related to RG-101, a GalNAc-conjugated anti-miR targeting microRNA-122 for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection, were accepted for presentation at The Liver Meeting, the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease.

• Investigators will present extended follow-up data from the Phase I clinical study of RG-101 demonstrating that a single subcutaneous administration of either 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg of RG-101 as monotherapy resulted in HCV RNA levels below the limit of quantification in 6/22 patients with various HCV genotypes at week 28 of follow-up.
• Investigators will also present data examining immunological changes observed in the plasma of patients who received a subcutaneous administration of RG-101 in the completed Phase I study.
  • Results demonstrated that HCV patients had significantly higher IP-10 levels at baseline compared to healthy controls. In HCV patients who received a subcutaneous administration of RG-101, a significant decline was observed in IP-10 serum concentrations compared to baseline, and RG-101 did not trigger a systemic immune activation.

8:01 am Cancer Genetics receives Bankruptcy Court approval to purchase Response Genetics (RGDXQ); acquisition, if consummated, is expected to contribute additional $10 -12 mln to CGI in revenue (CGIX) :

• The sale is subject to certain customary closing conditions and is anticipated to close by October 9, 2015. The acquisition, if consummated, is expected to contribute an additional $10 to $12 mln to CGI in revenue over the next 12 months and to expand CGI's solid tumor molecular diagnostics offering to include lung cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma tests that help determine a patient's response to cancer therapy.
• As previously announced, the purchase price is ~$14 mln, which will include $7 mln in cash and 788,584 shares of CGI common stock.

8:01 am TICC Capital recommends stockholders support BSP agreement (TICC) :

• Co announces it sent stockholders a letter urging them to support the previously announced agreement under which an affiliate of Benefit Street Partners would become the Company's new investment adviser. The agreement has been recommended by TICC's independent Special Committee as being in the best interests of TICC stockholders.
• TICC's Board of Directors carefully considered both TSLX's and NexPoint's proposals. In fact, TICC formed an TICC didn't run a independent Special Committee, comprised of fair process FALSE three independent directors with no financial interest in the advisor, TICC Management. The Special Committee was created to review these proposals.

8:00 am Inter Parfums extends its license agreement with Montblanc by five years (IPAR) : Co announced that its majority owned Paris-based subsidiary, Interparfums, has extended its license agreement with Montblanc by five years. The original agreement, signed in 2010, provided Interparfums with the exclusive worldwide license to create, produce and distribute perfumes and ancillary products under the Montblanc brand through December 31, 2020. The new 10-year agreement, which goes into effect on January 1, 2016, extends the partnership through December 31, 2025 without any material changes in operating conditions from the prior license. Interparfums's annual sales for Montblanc now exceed 80 million, a 400% increase in just 4 years.

7:56 am S&P futures vs fair value: +10.30. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: +29.80. (:WRAPX) :

U.S. equity futures trade near their pre-market highs amid upbeat action overseas with S&P 500 futures hovering ten points above fair value. However, some volatility is expected to surround the 8:30 ET release of the Nonfarm Payrolls report for September (Briefing.com consensus 205,000). In addition to Nonfarm Payrolls, investors will receive the August Factory Orders report at 10:00 ET (expected -1.0%).

Treasuries hold modest losses with the 10-yr yield higher by two basis points at 2.06%.

In U.S. corporate news of note:

• Micron (MU 15.75, +0.98): +6.6% after better than expected results overshadowed below-consensus guidance.
• Progress Software (PRGS 22.18, -3.45): -13.5% after light revenue and below-consensus guidance overshadowed a two-cent beat and news of a fresh $100 million buyback.
• Wynn Resorts (WYNN 55.40, +3.69): +7.1% amid reports Macau casinos may receive support from China's government.

Reviewing overnight developments:

• Asian markets ended mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng +3.2%, Japan's Nikkei settled flat, and China's Shanghai Composite remained closed.
  • In economic data:
    • Japan's August Household Spending +2.5% month-over-month (expected 0.5%; prior 0.6%); +2.9% year-over-year (consensus 0.4%; last -0.2%). Separately, Monetary Base +35.1% year-over-year (consensus 34.2%; last 33.3%) and August Unemployment Rate 3.4% (expected 3.3%; last 3.3%)
    • South Korea's September CPI -0.2% month-over-month (expected 0.2%; prior 0.2%); +0.6% year-over-year (consensus 0.9%; last 0.7%)
    • Hong Kong's August Retail Sales -5.4% year-over-year (expected -4.1%; prior -2.8%)
    • Australia's August Retail Sales +0.4% month-over-month, as expected (last -0.1%) and August HIA New Home Sales +2.3% month-over-month (prior -0.4%)
    • New Zealand's ANZ Commodity Price Index +5.5% month-over-month (prior -5.2%)
  • In news:
    • ANZ economists expect China's Q3 GDP to come in at 6.4% while 2015 GDP is expected to hit 6.8%

• Major European indices trade higher across the board. France's CAC +1.8%, UK's FTSE +1.5%, and Germany's DAX +1.4%. Elsewhere, Italy's MIB +1.7% and Spain's IBEX +1.0%
  • Economic data was limited:
    • Eurozone August PPI -0.8% month-over-month (expected -0.6%; prior -0.1%); -2.6% year-over-year (consensus -2.4%; last -2.1%)
    • UK's September Construction PMI 59.9 (expected 57.5; last 57.3)
    • Spain's Unemployment Change 26,100 (expected 17,900; prior 21,700)
  • Among news of note:
    • UK's construction PMI accelerated to levels last seen in March, giving a slight boost to the pound, which trades higher by about 20 pips against the dollar (1.5154)

7:51 am InterCloud Systems is awarded a $2.2 million contract for professional services, in connection with the deployment of an SDN network platform (ICLD) :  

7:47 am Asian Markets Close: Japan's Nikkei +0.02%; Hong Kong's Hang Seng +3.2%; China's Shanghai Composite closed for holiday (:SUMRX) :

It was a somewhat mixed showing from markets in the Asia-Pacific region on Friday. That came after a tepid performance on Wall Street on Thursday and ahead of the U.S. employment report for September, which will carry monetary policy implications. Hong Kong's Hang Seng (+3.2%) was the clear winner as it played catch up following its closure on Thursday. China remained closed for holiday; Japan's Nikkei was flat; and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.2%.

Economic Data

• Japan
  • August Household Spending +2.5% month-over-month (expected +0.5%; prior +0.6%); +2.9% year-over-year (expected +0.4%; prior -0.2%) August Unemployment Rate 3.4% (expected 3.3%; prior 3.3%)
• Hong Kong
  • August Retail Sales -5.4% year-over-year (expected -4.1%; prior -2.8%)
• South Korea
  • September CPI -0.2% month-over-month (expected +0.2%; prior +0.2%); +0.6% year-over-year (expected +0.9%; prior +0.7%)
  • August Current Account KRW 8.46 bln (prior KRW 9.49 bln)
• Australia
  • August HIA New Home Sales +2.3% month-over-month (prior -0.4%)
  • August Retail Sales +0.4% month-over-month (expected +0.4%; prior -0.1%)

Equity Markets

• Japan's Nikkei eked out a 0.02% gain, aided by some late buying interest. Strength in the materials (+1.4%) and consumer staples (+1.1%) sectors was offset by weakness in the health care (-1.4%) and financials (-0.4%) sectors. The top-performing stocks were Nitto Denko Corp (+5.7%), Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co (+5.0%), and Mitsubishi Motors (+4.5%) while Maruha Nichoro Corp (-4.0%), Hitachi Zosen (-3.8%), and Fukuoka Financial Group (-3.3%) brought up the rear. Out of the 225 index members, 100 ended higher, 108 finished lower, and 7 were unchanged. For the week, the Nikkei declined 0.9%.
• Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 3.2% in a catch-up trade after being closed for a holiday on Thursday. Gains were led by Galaxy Entertainment Group (+10.2%), China Resources Land (+8.7%), and China Overseas Land & Investment (+6.8%). Out of the 50 index members, only three -- Li & Fung (-1.5%), Sun Hung Kai Properties (-0.4%), and Power Assets Holdings (-0.1%) -- ended the day lower. For the week, the Hang Seng increased 1.5%.
• China's Shanghai Composite: closed for holiday (National Day)
• India's Sensex: closed for holiday (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi)
• Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.2% and ended near its lows for the day. The weakness was driven by the utilities (-2.0%), telecom services (-1.7%), and health care (-1.5%) sectors. Out of the 200 index members, 54 ended higher, 135 finished lower, and 11 were unchanged. For the week, the S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.2%.
• Regional advancers: Taiwan +0.1%, Thailand +0.1%
• Regional decliners: South Korea -0.5%, Malaysia -0.3%, Indonesia -1.1%, Singapore -0.3%, Vietnam -0.2%, Philippines -0.6%

FX

• USD/CNY unch at 6.3571
• USD/INR unch at 65.5125
• USD/JPY +0.2% at 120.18

7:37 am Stein Mart reports overall sales in September have been somewhat sluggish and now expects September comps will be negative low single digits vs +4.9% last year (SMRT) :

• While the Company is delighted with Commack grand opening results, overall sales in September have been somewhat sluggish, impacted by one less week of post-Labor Day fall fashion selling, a shift of promotional events and unseasonably warm weather. The move of Labor Day to a week later in September this year resulted in several events being pushed back one week and a shoe and accessories event being moved from September to October. As a result, the Company expects September (five-week period ending October 3, 2015) comparable store sales will be negative low single digits compared to a strong 4.9% increase last year.
• "We feel the warmer weather and shift in our promotional calendar has impacted sales this month...We clearly have the right merchandise in place to have a successful fall season once cooler weather arrives."

Retailers will report Sept sales next week on Thurs Oct 8 before the open.

7:33 am Overnight Treasury Summary (BONDX) :

Treasury Yields Climb

• U.S. Treasury coupon securities are trading lower this morning ahead of the release of the September Employment Situation Report. August's nonfarm payroll growth of 173K was taken with a grain of salt by investors because the August employment numbers have historically been revised higher, so the revision to August may come under scrutiny. As usual, hourly earnings growth will be crucial as the Fed is watching closely for signs of wage growth to show that excess capacity in the labor market is in fact diminishing. U.S. equities have been firming up since Tuesday afternoon but Treasuries have been moving sideways. S&P 500 futures are pointing to an open up 0.31% at 1,931.9. The U.S. Dollar Index has recovered much of Thursday's losses and remains in a very tight range
  
• Yield Check:
  
  • 2-yr: +1 bp to 0.66%
    
  • 5-yr: +1 bp to 1.38%
    
  • 10-yr: +2 bps to 2.06%
    
  • 30-yr: +2 bps to 2.87%

• International News:
  
  • In Japan, household spending grew 2.5% m/m in August, much better than expected and higher than the 0.6% growth in July
    
    • The year-on-year number for August was 2.9%, the highest since May
      
    • Household spending has been of particular concern since the national sales tax hike in April 2014
      
  • Australian retail sales growth in August was in line with estimates at 0.4% m/m. Retail sales fell 0.1% m/m in July
    
    • Markit's U.K. construction PMI soared past already high expectations, rising to 59.9 in September from 57.3 in August
      
    • Despite the very strong headline number, new business growth has been on the wane since the post-election peak

• Data Out Today:
  
  • September Employment Situation Report (08:30 ET)
    
  • August Factory Orders (10:00 ET)
    
• Fed Speakers:
  
  • Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren (non-FOMC voter) (08:30 ET)
    
  • Minneapolis Fed President Kocherlakota (non-FOMC voter) is a panelist in "Should U.S. Monetary Policy have a Ternary Mandate?" (09:00 ET)
    
  • St. Louis Fed President Bullard (non-FOMC voter) (09:00 ET)
    
  • Cleveland Fed President Mester (non-FOMC voter) participates in panel, "Micro Prudential Versus Macro Prudential: Problems with Supervisory Control" (11:00 ET)
    
  • Fed Vice Chair Fischer (FOMC voter) (13:00 ET)

7:31 am Bluelinx says not aware of any fundamental business reason for the recent volatility in the price of its stock, provides update on mortgage refinancing process (BXC) :

Commenting on the recent volatility in its stock, the co stated that, "the industry continues to benefit from the generally improving U.S. residential construction environment and we believe that our current stock price does not reflect the underlying fundamentals of our business, particularly in light of positive market trends."

• "From an accounting perspective, our real estate loan, which matures in July 2016, became classified as a current liability as it is due in less than one year. We have been focused on refinancing this loan and engaged Eastdil Secured, L.L.C. in early September 2015 to arrange the refinancing... The yield maintenance prepayment amount of approximately $1 million per month under our current real estate loan ends on December 31, 2015, which makes our timing advantageous in terms of minimizing costly yield maintenance prepayment fees. Our goal is to finalize the refinancing by December 31, 2015"

7:31 am CME Group reports that Q3 volume averaged 14.4 mln contracts/day, up 7% Y/Y (CME) :

Co announced that September 2015 volume averaged 14.1 million contracts per day, down 7 % Y/Y. Total volume was more than 296 million contracts, of which 87 % was traded electronically.

• Average daily volume to date in 2015 is 14.2 million contracts, up 7 % Y/Y, with year-over-year growth across all six product lines.
• CME Group interest rate volume averaged 6.2 million contracts per day in September 2015, down 23 % Y/Y.
• CME Group equity index volume in September 2015 averaged 3.7 million contracts per day, up 19 % Y/Y.

7:26 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• The St. Francis Hospital Board of Trustees and LifePoint Health (LPNT) announced a significant milestone in their proposed partnership. The organizations have reached an agreement in principle for a subsidiary of LifePoint to acquire St. Francis Hospital, and they have submitted their agreement to the Attorney General of the State of Georgia for review and approval
• CRC Insurance Services, a wholesale insurance subsidiary of BB&T Corporation's (BBT) principal subsidiary Branch Banking and Trust Company, announced an agreement to acquire Connecticut Underwriters. Terms were not disclosed.
• BlackBerry (BBRY) announced that Airbus Group (EADSY) has upgraded to BES12, a multi-OS EMM solution by BlackBerry, to securely manage its global multi-OS mobile fleet.

7:01 am Sanchez Energy appoints Eduardo Sanchez as President, effective October 1, 2015; Eduardo Sanchez has served as President and CEO of Sanchez Resources since 2010 (SN) :  

7:00 am Horizon Pharma enters into a settlement and license agreement with Actavis Laboratories to resolve pending patent litigation involving RAYOS Delayed-Release Tablets (HZNP) : Under the settlement and license agreement, Horizon has granted Actavis the right to market a version of delayed-release prednisone tablets in the United States under the Actavis Abbreviated New Drug Application, beginning December 23, 2022 or earlier under certain circumstances.

6:54 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• Columbia Pipeline Group (CPGX) and Columbia Pipeline Partners LP (CPPL) announced that their subsidiary, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, has placed the East Side Expansion Project in service.
• DynaEnergetics, a business of Dynamic Materials Corporation (BOOM) announced it has entered into a Principal Partner Agreement with Weatherford International plc (WFT). Under the agreement, Weatherford becomes the first oilfield service company to deploy DynaEnergetics' DynaStage product, a factory-assembled well perforating system

6:52 am Teekay Offshore declares dividend of $0.56 (increased 4% from prior quarter) for quarter ended 9/30/15 (TOO) : The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2015 to all unitholders of record on October 13, 2015. Co cited the increase was as a result of recent acquisition of the Petrojarl Knarr FPSO.

6:48 am J. C. Penney announces actions expected to reduce the benefit obligation of its qualified pension plan; transactions expected to reduce $5 bln U.S. pension obligation by 25-25% (JCP) :

The co announced actions that are expected to 'significantly' reduce the benefit obligation of itsqualified pension plan without requiring any cash contribution fromthe Company. JCPenney recently completed a lump-sum offer for selectparticipants in the Plan, and it has also entered into an agreement with ThePrudential Insurance Company of America to purchase a groupannuity contract that will settle a substantial portion of JCPenney's remainingretiree pension benefit obligations.

• After the closing of these transactions,which is anticipated later this year, the Plan is expected to remain over-fundedon both accounting and ERISA bases, and the Company expects that it will not berequired to make cash contributions to the Plan for the foreseeable future.
• Approximately 12,000 retirees and surviving beneficiaries elected to receivevoluntary lump-sum payments to settle the Plan's pension obligation to them. The actions announced today should reduce the pension obligation by 25-35% andthe number of participants in the Plan by 25-35%.

6:45 am Forestar announces that CFO Christopher Nines stepped down from his position on Sep. 30, 2015; names EVP Charles Jehl as CFO (FOR) : The Board of Directors has named Charles D. Jehl, Executive Vice President-Oil & Gas, as Chief Financial Officer. Jehl served as Forestar's Chief Accounting Officer from 2006 to 2013, and prior to joining Forestar was Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Guaranty Insurance Services, Inc.

6:32 am Bombardier signs an agreement with CityJet for 16 CRJ series aircraft, valued at ~$369 mln (BDRBF) :

Co welcomed Dublin-based CityJet to the CRJ Series family of aircraft operators following confirmation that it will operate CRJ900 aircraft in the network of Sweden's Scandinavian Airlines. CityJet will acquire the aircraft from a customer that signed a firm purchase agreement for eight CRJ900 aircraft and took options on an additional six.

• Based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, the firm agreement signed by Bombardier and its customer is valued at ~$369 million. The value could increase to $651 million if all options are exercised.

6:32 am Applied Industrial acquires S. G. Morris Co.; terms undisclosed (AIT) :  SGM provides fluid power, motion control, and lubrication solutions

6:31 am AutoNation reports retail new vehicle unit sales of 29,046 in September 2015, +21% Y/Y (AN) :

• Co announced that it reported to automotive manufacturers, based on their respective sales transaction reporting standards, retail sales of 29,046 new vehicles in September 2015, an increase of 21% as compared to September 2014.
• On a same-store basis, reported retail new vehicle unit sales in September 2015 increased 18% as compared to September 2014.
• Co reported retail new vehicle unit sales in the third quarter of 2015 were 89,953, an increase of 7% as compared to the third quarter of 2014.

6:30 am On the Wires (:WIRES) :

• Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) announced that its LifePort Sciences LLC and LifeScreen Sciences LLC subsidiaries have entered into a settlement and patent license agreement with C.R. Bard, Inc. and Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. The agreement resolves litigation that was pending in the US District Court of New Jersey and the USDistrict Court for the District of Delaware.
• This week mine staff of Timmins Gold (TGD) spotted a 2m tear in the liner of the new leach pads at its San Francisco open pit, heap leach gold mine in Sonora, Mexico. The area adjacent to the tear had just been placed under leach and a small amount of the leach fluids flowed over the area of the tear. Co immediately reported the incident to PROFEPA, the Mexican environmental agency, which has since inspected the area. Co believes that the clay barrier built beneath the liner caught any fluids that flowed over the area of the tear. Co is in the process of replacing the clay and fixing the tear and expects to shortly receive the approval of PROFEPA to resume irrigation in that area.

6:26 am Wowo Co-CEO Jianguang Wu tenders his resignation effective September 30 (WOWO) : The co states that the resignation was due to personal reasons and not the result of any disagreement. Wu will continue to act as the director of the Company.

The Company also announced that on September 28, 2015, Yongming Zhang tendered his resignation as a member of the board of directors of the Company, effective on September 28, 2015.

6:24 am Cellceutix retains legal advisors to investigate, address and defend against the recent filing of what it considers to be a frivolous and baseless lawsuit (CTIX) :  

6:16 am Civitas Solutions prices its downsized offering of 2 mln shares on behalf of selling shareholders at $21.50/share (CIVI) : Offering was downsized from earlier plans for the selling shareholders to sell 3 mln shares

6:00 am China Zenix Auto International regains compliance with the NYSE minimum price bid rule (ZX) :  

5:48 am S&P futures vs fair value: +8.50. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: +26.30. :

5:48 am European Markets : FTSE...6151.60...+79.10...+1.30%.  DAX...9623.08...+113.80...+1.20%.

5:48 am Asian Markets : Nikkei...17725.13...+2.70...+0.00%.  Hang Seng...21506.09...+659.80...+3.20%.

5:46 am Riverview Bancorp, Inc. increases quarterly dividend to $0.015/share from $0.0125/share (RVSB) :  

4:11 am Realty Income prices 10,000,000 shares of common stock at $46.88 per share (O) :  

4:08 am DISH Network issues statement updating AWS-3 Spectrum; Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless are expected to be granted licenses (DISH) :

Co issued the following statement: 

• "Today, the two entities in which DISH invested with respect to the AWS-3 auction -- Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless -- entered into a series of arrangements in connection with which the FCC will retain certain licenses for which Northstar and SNR were the winning bidders, and the FCC will apply funds already on deposit and newly-loaned funds from a subsidiary of DISH toward the payment of the gross winning bids for the remaining licenses, which cover approximately 6.6 billion MHz-POPs..."
  

3:51 am Novartis unit Sandoz receives FDA submission acceptance for its proposed biosimilar etanercept (NVS) :

Sandoz, a Novartis company and the global leader in biosimilars, announced today that the FDA has accepted its Biologics License Application under the 351 (k) pathway for its proposed biosimilar to Amgen's US-licensed Enbrel - a tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor.

• Sandoz believes that the two pivotal clinical studies; a pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers and a confirmatory safety and efficacy study in patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis, will provide confirmation of similarity to the reference product established in prior analytical comparability investigations.

3:04 am Immune Pharma secures $3 mln tranche from Discover Growth Fund (IMNP) :

Immune Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received an additional $3 million in gross proceeds from Discover Growth Fund pursuant prior agreement previously disclosed.

• This financing was in addition to the gross proceeds of $9 million already received from Discover at the same $2.50 conversion price and terms and the $4.5 million from Hercules Technology Growth Capital.
• The additional $3 million from Discover was received upon an effective "resale" registration statement pertaining to the Series D Preferred and stockholders approval on Friday, September 25, 2015.