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U.S. stocks opened marginally lower on Friday as the three main benchmarks struggled to preserve their weekly gains in an environment of intensifying geopolitical uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped seven points, or less than 0.1%, to 19,913, but remained on track to notch its 7th straight weekly gain, what would be its longest winning streak in two years. The S&P 500 shed one point to 2,260. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 3.5 points, or 0.1%, to 5,443. Some of Friday’s big movers include uniform-maker Cintas Corp. which fell after releasing its fiscal 2017 forecast. Shares of Prestige Brands Holdings Inc. , known for its line of over-the-counter enemas and laxatives, also fell. Investors were rattled this week by attacks in Turkey and Germany, as well as news that Australian police foiled a terror plot set for Christmas Day.

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From:: Stock Market News

Two suspected hijackers are threatening to blow up an Afriqiyah Airways jet diverted from Libya to Malta on Friday, The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing a local government spokesman. Negotiators are talking to the suspects, the WSJ report said. The Airbus 320 was on a domestic flight from Sabha to Libya’s capital Tripoli, carrying 111 passengers, when a hijacker demanded to be taken to the Mediterranean island. A total of 65 passengers has been released so far, some in groups of 25, Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in a post to Twitter Friday. Of the passengers, 82 are males and 28 females, with one infant, Muscat said. Operations in Malta are being directed by the security services, the Maltese prime minister said, adding that he had spoken to his Libyan counterpart, Faez al Serraj.

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From:: Stock Market News

Stonebridge Biopharma PLC said Friday that it raised an expected $35 million by selling shares, and warrants to buy shares, at nearly a one-third discount. The biopharmaceutical company, based in Dublin, Ireland and Trevose, Penn., said it will issue 14 million shares to investors at $2.50 a share, and warrants to buy 7 million shares that are exercisable at $2.50 a share. The price is 31% below Thursday’s closing price of $3.60. Stonebridge expects the placement of shares to close on or about Dec. 28. Separately, Stonebridge said it acquired U.S. rights to Keveyis, the only FDA-approved treatment of rare hereditary disorders that could lead to severe muscle weakness. The company also said it expects to initiate a second phase 3 study of its treatment for endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, although recruitment for the first phase 3 trial has been slower than anticipated. The stock, which was still inactive in premarket trade, has tumbled 53% year to date, while the S&P 500 has gained 11%.

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From:: Stock Market News

The suspected hijacker of an Afriqiyah Airways passenger plane has threatened to blow up the airliner, with 111 passengers on board, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The airliner, an Airbus 320, was on flight to Libya’s capital Tripoli from the central city of Sabha, then diverted to Malta after a passenger demanded to be flown to the Mediterranean, the WSJ report said. Malta airport authorities said in a statement that there had been an unlawful interference at the airport and that emergency teams had been dispatched, the WSJ report said.

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From:: Stock Market News

Shares of Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc. were indicated down more than 5% in premarket trade Friday, after the pharmaceutical company said the manufacturing line related to its glaucoma treatment Rhopressa will not be ready in time for inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, the new drug application that Aerie had withdrawn in October, is not expected to be resubmitted until near the end of the first quarter of 2017. “The delay apparently does not result from any new findings, but rather additional time needed to complete validation of new equipment,” Aerie said in a statement. The stock has run up 53% year to date through Thursday, while the S&P 500 has gained 11%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Police in Milan, Italy, have shot and killed Anis Amri, the Tunisian man suspected of carrying out Monday’s terror attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, media reports said Friday. The 24-year-old suspect, identified via a fingerprint check, died in a shootout at Sesto San Giovanni on Friday, Italian news service ANSA reported. Amri was stopped by police on a routine road check at around 3 a.m. local time, ANSA said. German investigators found Amri’s fingerprints inside the truck used to ram crowds at the Berlin market on Monday, in a suspected terror attack that left 12 dead and dozens injured.

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From:: Stock Market News

Shares of Dipexium Pharmaceuticals Inc. surged in the extended session Thursday after the microcap drug maker said it will merge with privately-held PLx Pharma Inc. Dipexium shares rallied 66% to $2.65 after hours. Dipexium said it will issue about 36 million new shares of its stock to PLx shareholders, who will own just under 77% of outstanding shares while current Dipexium shareholders will own a little over 23%. The new company will retain the name PLx Pharma Inc. The focus of the company will be development and commercialization of Aspertec, an aspirin for high-risk cardiovascular and neurology patients.

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From:: Stock Market News

Shares of Lockheed Martin Corp. declined in the extended session Thursday while shares of Boeing Co. advanced following a tweet by President-elect Donald Trump about cost overruns for Lockheed’s F-35 fighter. Lockheed shares fell 1.9% to $248 after hours, while Boeing shares rose 0.7% to $158.58. Late Thursday, Trump posted on his Twitter account that he had asked Boeing to price out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet fighter because of rising costs in the F-35 program.

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From:: Stock Market News

Prestige Brands Holdings Inc. said late Thursday it plans to buy privately-held C.B. Fleet Co. for $825 million. Fleet is known for its line of over-the-counter enemas and laxatives, as well as its Summers Eve line of feminine hygiene products. Prestige expects the acquisition to increase the company’s pro forma revenue in fiscal 2018 to about $1 billion. The company reported $806.2 million in revenue in fiscal 2016. Prestige said it expects to close the transaction by the end of its fiscal fourth quarter. Shares were unchanged at $48.74 after hours.

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From:: Stock Market News