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U.S. wholesale prices rose in 2017 at the fastest pace in six years, a buildup in inflation that could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more aggressively unless it lets up. The producer price index increased 2.6% last year, even after a small decline in December. The PPI dipped 0.1% last month. The core PPI rose 0.1% in December, however

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Tivo Corp. said on Thursday that Rovi, which Tivo owns, has filed new patent infringement lawsuits against Comcast Corp. . Rovi alleges Comcast’s X1 set top box platform infringes on technology invented and patented by Rovi, including pausing and resuming TV shows on different devices, restarting live programming in progress, advanced DVR recording features and advanced search and voice functionality. “Hundreds of media and entertainment leaders around the world recognize the value of our innovations by selecting our products and services and licensing our intellectual property,” Tivo Chief Executive Enrique Rodriguez said in a statement. “Our goal is for Comcast to renew its long-standing license.” In November, the International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Tivo in a previous patent infringement lawsuit brought against Comcast. Tivo said as part of the most recent lawsuit that it plans to file additional legal action with the International Trade Commission on the same patents, seeking an exclusion order that would prevent infringing Comcast set-top boxes from being imported to the U.S. Comcast shares were inactive in premarket trade on Thursday. Shares of Tivo were up more than 2%, but have declined nearly 27% in the last 12 months. By comparison, the S&P 500 index is up close to 21% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up more than 27%.

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Endo International Plc shares slid almost 6% in premarket trade Thursday, after the company confirmed that its subsidiary, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., has received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, seeking information relating to products containing the opioid oxymorphone. The company said the subpoena is seeking documents including those produced in past or pending lawsuits, as well as those relating to safety and efficacy, overdoses, abuse/misuse and overprescribing, among other issues. The company said it intends to cooperate with the subpoena and any related investigation. The U.S. is currently in the midst of an opioid crisis stemming from widespread use of opioids as a pain medication. Endo shares have fallen 42% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 21%.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday that it will increase the starting wage for hourly associates to $11, effective during the Feb. 17, 2018 pay cycle. Wal-Mart previously announced wage increases in 2016.The company is also offering a one-time $1,000 bonus to eligible full-time and part-time associates. An associate’s length of service will determine the size of the bonus. Those with at least 20 years of experience will qualify for $1,000. “We are early in the stages of assessing the opportunities tax reform creates for us to invest in our customers and associates and to further strengthen our business, all of which should benefit our shareholders,” said Chief Executive Doug McMillon in a statement. Wal-Mart has also expanded paid maternity leave to 10 weeks and six weeks of parental leave for full-time hourly associates. Salaried employees will also get six weeks of paid parental leave. Finally, the retail giant will provide a benefit of $5,000 for full-time hourly and salaried associates to help with adoption fees. The cost of the wage increase is expected to be $300 million incremental to what’s included in the next fiscal year plan. And about $400 million will be applied to the current fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2018 for the bonus payments. Wal-Mart will provide additional details when quarterly results are released on Feb. 20. Wal-Mart shares are up 0.6% in premarket trading, and up 16.3% for the last three months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average [S: djia] is up 11% for the past three months.

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The euro leapt against major rivals Thursday, following the release of minutes from the European Central Bank’s December meeting that showed the central bank could shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy efforts this year. “The language pertaining to various dimensions of the monetary policy stance and forward guidance could be revisited early in the coming year,” according to the minutes. Reconsideration could take place if the eurozone economy continues to expand and if inflation keeps rising toward the bank’s target around 2%, the minutes said. The shared currency climbed to $1.2020 after the release, up from $1.1949 late Wednesday. The ECB will next meet on Jan. 25 in Frankfurt.

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Post Holdings Inc. , a consumer packaged goods company, said Thursday it is exploring strategic alternatives for its private brands business, including an initial public offering, a placement of private equity or outright sale. The company, which is currently acquiring Bob Evans Farms Inc., said the business is expected to report sales of $791.2 million for fiscal 2017, and produces nut butter, dried fruit and nut, pasta and granola products. The company is planning to combine the private brands business under the leadership of Jim Dwyer, president and chief executive of its Michael Foods Group. We “believe the best structure to support Jim and his team is likely outside of Post’s full ownership and we will aggressively explore creative alternatives involving direct capital and/or strategic partnerships,” Chief Executive Rob Vitale said in a statement. Post is expecting the Bob Evans deal to close on Jan. 12. Shares were not yet active premarket, but have fallen 3% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 21%.

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Shares of Progress Software Corp. rose 9.2% in premarket trade Thursday, after the company beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates and offered upbeat guidance on its conference call. Benchmark analyst Mark Schappel reiterated their buy rating on the stock, but said although it was a good quarter, it didn’t change his investment opinion of the stock. “The company continues to move forward with its machine learning-based Cognitive Apps “growth” strategy while at the same time attempting to keep activist shareholders at bay through prudent cost disciplines and allocating capital through dividends and share repurchases,” Schappel wrote in a note. Progress Software has come under pressure from hedge fund Praesidium Investment Management, its third biggest shareholder, according to FactSet, which has urged it to replace its chairman. The company reported EPS of 34 cents, after a loss of $1.52 a share a year ago. Adjusted per-share earnings came to 67 cents, above the 61 cents consensus. Revenue fell 1.4% to $116.1 million, but topped the consensus of $114.3 million. Shares have gained 38% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 21%.

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Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. shot up 3.7% in premarket trade Thursday, after the air carrier reported fourth-quarter profit and sales that beat expectations. Net income for the quarter to Dec. 31 fell to $572 million, or 80 cents a share, from $622 million, or 84 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted earnings per share came to 96 cents, above the FactSet consensus of 88 cents. The company recognized a one-time charge of $150 million during the quarter as a result of tax reform legislation. Total revenue rose 8% to $10.25 billion, beating the FactSet consensus of $10.13 billion, amid a 7% rise in total passenger revenue and a 18% jump in other revenue. Load factor improved to 85.2% from 85.1%. Looking ahead, the company expects first-quarter total unit revenue growth of 2.5% to 4.5%. The stock has rallied 5.3% over the past three months, while the NYSE Arca Airline Index has gained 3.3% and the S&P 500 has climbed 7.6%.

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Shares of Boston Scientific Corp. rose 1.7% in premarket trade Thursday, after the company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its Spectra WaveWriter spinal cord simulator system, a non-opioid treatment for chronic pain. “It is the first and only system approved by the FDA to simultaneously provide paresthesia-based and sub-perception therapy,” the company said in a statement. The system sends low electrical pulses to the spinal cord to interrupt pain signals. “Paresthesia-based therapy provides pain relief with a light tingling sensation while sub-perception therapy works without that sensation,” said the statement. Patients can combine therapies to best manage multiple areas of pain. More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is the leading cause of disability in adults. Shares have gained 18% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 21%.

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Shares of DST Systems Inc. jumped 3.3% in premarket trade Thursday, after the information processing and servicing company agreed to be acquired by SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc. in a deal valued at $5.4 billion, including debt. SS&C shares were still inactive. Under terms of the deal, SS&C will pay $84 a share in cash for each DST share outstanding, which implies a market value of about $5.06 billion for DST. SS&C, a provider of software services for the financial services industry, plans to fund the acquisition, which is expected to close during the third quarter, with a combination of debt and equity. SS&C expects the deal to add immediately to adjusted earnings per share, and result in $150 million in annual cost savings, to be achieved by 2020. DST’s stock has run up 44.5% over the past 12 months, while SS&C shares have soared 52.1% and the S&P 500 has gained 20.8%.

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