Down 0.10 to 35.91

Waste Management says it has raised its bid for Republic Services (RSG) to $37 per share from $34 per share. Notes the revised offer represents a 32.6% premium to RSG's closing stock price on July 11, the last trading day prior to WMI's first takeover bid, which was rejected.

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. (ITW)

Down 0.26 to 49.74

ITW announces plans to divest the Decorative Surfaces segment, consisting of the Wilsonart and related laminate business, and the Click Commerce industrial software business.

CALPINE CORP. (CPN)

Up 0.76 to 16.75

Calpine posts second-quarter earnings per share of 41 cents on a 37% operating revenue rise. Notes year ago loss per share not comparable due to changes in co.'s capital structure on Jan. 31 '08. Names Jack A. Fusco as President & CEO, effective August 10, 2008.

A.C. MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS, INC. (ACMR)

Down 0.89 to 7.35

A.C. Moore posts a 21 cents second-quarter loss per share vs. a 3-cent loss on 4.8% lower same-store sales, 1.6% higher total sales.

CARDIOME PHARMA CORP. (CRME)

Down 3.45 to 8.5

Cardiome and partner Astellas Pharma US, receive action letter from FDA for Kynapid Injection [vernakalant hydrochloride] for treatment of atrial fibrillation. FDA said it completed its review of the Kynapid, application is approvable, but prior to considering approval, FDA requires additional information associated with risk of previously identified events experienced by subset of patients during clinical trials in order to assure acceptable risk benefit profile compared to electrical cardioversion. FDA has also requested safety update from ongoing or completed studies of vernakalant, regardless of indication, dosage form, or dose level.

PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC. (PEIX)

Down 0.43 to 1.94

Pacific Ethanol posts second quarter loss of 23 cents per share loss vs. 3 cents EPS as higher corn prices offset a 74% sales rise. PEIX noted average corn prices increased 67% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.

VERICHIP CORP. (CHIP)

Up 0.65 to 2.27

Verichip says its board of directors has declared a one-time special dividend payment of $1.35 per share to its stockholders. The special dividend is payable on August 28, 2008 to stockholders of record as of August 18, 2008.

PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP. (HK)

Down 2.12 to 27.49

Petrohawk files to offer 25 million shares.

CLEARONE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (CLRO)

Up 1.10 to 4.84

The company plans to buy back up to 2 million shares in a modified dutch auction tender offer at a price per share of no less than $4.00 and not greater than $5.00 per share.

NATIONAL CITY CORP. (NCC)

Down 0.02 to 5.10

National City says in From 10-Q filing that it was notified on June 30, 2008 that the SEC is conducting an informal investigation of the company and has requested NCC provide it with certain documents concerning NCC's loan underwriting experience, dividends, bank regulatory matters and the sale of First Franklin Financial Corp. S&P maintains sell.

SONOCO PRODUCTS CO. (SON)

Up 0.17 to 32.97

Sonoco says it will implement a minimum 5% increase on all of its tube and core products shipped in the U.S., Canada. The price increase, which will be in addition to an energy surcharge announced in June, will become effective Sept. 15, 2008.

SURMODICS, INC. (SRDX)

Down 3.94 to 39.01

Surmodics says Merck & Co. (MRK) has informed co., that, in light of results reported in recently published study comparing laser treatment and intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diabetic macular edema [DME], MRK is reevaluating the design of its Phase IIb clinical trial for I-vation TA. Pending this review, MRK is suspending enrollment of new patients in Phase IIb clinical trial.

CIENA CORP. (CIEN)

Up 1.19 to 18.20

Morgan Keegan upgrades CIEN to outperform from market perform. Co. no news.

BRONCO DRILLING COMPANY (BRNC)

Down 0.42 to 15.48

Bronco and Allis-Chalmers Energy (ALY) terminated their merger agreement relating to proposed acquisition of Bronco by Allis-Chalmers. A statement said the companies terminated the deal in light of clear indications that Bronco stockholders would not adopt merger agreement. Jefferies upgrades Bronco to buy from hold.

LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP. (LGF)

Up 0.26 to 10.74

Lions Gate posts first quarter EPS of 6 cents, vs. a 45-cent loss one year earlier, on a 50% revenue rise. The company noted lower theatrical P&A costs expensed in the first quarter of 2008 and strong revenue gains throughout its core businesses. Lions Gate expects to continue double-digit revenue growth this year, with a view toward generating significant positive EBITDA. It also sees continued double-digit revenue growth in fiscal 2010.

FUEL TECH, INC. (FTEK)

Down 0.74 to 15.06

The company posted second-quarter EPS of 2 cents, vs. 1 cent one year earlier, on a 16% revenue rise.

CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. (FTEK)

Up 0.94 to 16.99

Clear Channel Outdoor posted second-quarter EPS of 23 cents, vs. 19 cents one year earlier, on a 9.3% revenue rise.

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. (VZ)

Up 0.42 to 35.01

Verizon reached a tentative agreement on three-year contracts with the Communications Workers of America [CWA] and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers [IBEW]. The two unions represent approximately 65,000 employees primarily in the companys Verizon Telecom business group in 10 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C.

Story Source: Business Week