Point Therapeutics, Inc. (NDAQ:POTP) provided preliminary results from the company's Phase 2 trial of talabostat plus gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have not received prior chemotherapy. The promising results jumped the stock's price 21% to close at $1.03 per share.

AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (NDAQ:ASIA) announced it has recently signed a contract with China Unicom (NYSE:CHU) to develop its national CDMA push mail platform. The news moved ASIA up over 8% in today's trading.

Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation (NDAQ:AVNC) announced total revenue for 2006 from sales of Keflex products was approximately $5 million, lower than prior expectations of $7 million to $10 million. Meanwhile, the current FY06 revenue consensus stands at $7.38 million.

AOL (NYSE:TWX) and Napster (NDAQ:NAPS), announced that Napster will become the exclusive music subscription provider integrated into AOL Music, replacing AOL Music Now. The news moved NAPS up over 7.8% in today's trading session.

BP (NYSE:BP) announced today that after more than a decade in the CEO role Lord Browne has decided to retire as chief executive at the end of June 2007.

Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) projects fourth quarter net sales of approximately $122 million with guidance range of $122 to $126 million. Earnings for the fourth quarter are now projected to be $0.68 to $0.72 per diluted share, while the previous guidance was for earnings of $0.90 to $0.93 per diluted share. Meanwhile, the current consensus stands at $0.92 per share.

The IPO for Legacy Reserves LP (NDAQ:LGCY) opened for trading today at $19 before closing at $20.39.

ZEVEX International, Inc. (NDAQ:ZVXI) has executed a definitive merger agreement with Moog Inc. (NYSE:MOG.A) (NYSE:MOG.B). Upon the closing of the merger, each share of ZEVEX common stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing, and each outstanding restricted stock unit that is convertible into shares of ZEVEX common stock, will be converted into the right to receive $13.00 in cash from Moog.

Stantec (NYSE:SXC) has signed a letter of intent to acquire Vollmer Associates LLP, a 650-person firm headquartered in New York City. Vollmer provides engineering, architecture, planning, landscape architecture, and survey services focused on the transportation sector, from offices throughout the northeast United States.

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE:OI) has retained advisors to review strategic options for its plastics packaging business, including a possible sale. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2006, O-I Plastics had revenues of approximately $770 million. OI stock moved up 7% on the news.

Metavante Corporation, the financial technology subsidiary of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE:MI) announced the acquisition of Valutec Card Solutions, Inc., of Franklin, Tenn. The company will continue to operate under the Valutec name, and will become a Metavante company.

Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV) announced a tender offer to acquire Ubiquity Software Corporation plc (LSE:UBQ.L). The offer price is 37.3 pence in cash for each Ubiquity share. This values the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Ubiquity at approximately GBP 74.3 million (or approximately $144 million USD) after adjusting for the assumed proceeds from the exercise of options over Ubiquity shares.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) remains right around its 52-week high today, after speculation that KC could be a potential buyout candidate continues to resonate in the marketplace. The rumors began after unusual options activity a few months ago sparked investor interest. More recently, an internal e-mail from KC Chairman and CEO Thomas J. Falk reported discussed why the company would be a good takeover target. KC executives based in the Fox Cities, who asked not to be named, told a local newspaper that bonus-eligible executives received Falk's e-mail Wednesday morning. While the letter did not confirm the rumors definitively, they most definitely did not dispel the speculation. The e-mail noted that KC's successful global business operations and strong financial success were the key reasons supporting a buyout.

Many analysts on the street also acknowledge the possibility, citing KC's strong portfolio of brand names, including Kleenex, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Depends, Kotex, and Scott. One of the more prominent analysts, B. Craig Hutson, noted that "While we are unable to substantiate the [leveraged buyout] rumors, we believe Kimberly has characteristics that might make it an attractive LBO candidate". If such a buyout did occur, it would be one of the largest deals ever, with KC's market capitalization currently standing at about $31.6 billion. Regardless, this stock is definitely one worth watching over the next few months.

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McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) may be putting its Boston Market restaurant chain up for sale in an effort to further consolidate its operations after its recent spin-off of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG). The rumors stem from a Chicago Tribute article that cites an annual state-of-the-company meeting in which management said that they plan to sell the business segment. McDonald's purchased the company seven years ago in bankruptcy court for $173.5 million as a diversification move.

Obviously, any sale or spin-off of Boston Market would result in extra cash for the company, but it is not clear how this cash would be used. It is worth noting, however, that Bill Ackman still holds a substantial stake in the company, and he is well known for his shareholder activism. His hedge fund, Perishing Square, also has a long history with McDonalds, after pressuring them in 2005 to spin-off 65% of their owned restaurants before settling for a $1 billion share buyback program along with other measures to increase shareholder value. Perhaps now their interests are aligned as McDonald's looks to streamline their operations by selling off non-core businesses and deliver value to shareholders. While nothing is certain yet, this is certainly a stock worth watching over the next few months.

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