5:54 am Shanghai...-0.52% (FXI) :  

5:54 am S&P futures vs fair value: -9.00. Nasdaq futures vs fair value: -30.00. :

5:54 am European Markets : FTSE...5884.19...-27.30...-0.50%.  DAX...9771.36...-51.40...-0.50%.

5:54 am Asian Markets : Nikkei...17164...+455.00...+2.70%.  Hang Seng...19052...+191.70...+1.00%.

5:38 am On The Wires (:WIRES) :

• CNOOC (CEO) today announced that the Kenli 10-4 oilfield has commenced production. There are currently 6 wells on production, producing a total of approximately 6,540 barrels of crude oil per day. The oilfield is expected to reach its ODP designed peak production of approximately 9,600 barrels of crude oil per day in 2016. 
• Marsh (MMC) announced the launch of Cyber ECHO, a new global excess cyber risk facility that provides more reliable insurance coverage for organisations around the world.
• Nasdaq (NDAQ) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange have announced that NSE, which services the largest economy in Africa, will acquire Nasdaq's SMARTS Market Surveillance platform to power their compliance program.
• Omnicell (OMCL) announced plans to deliver a new, cloud-based capability that will be called DocsCorp Cloud. In addition, DocsCorp will publish new Add-Ins that will extend the functionality of cleanDocs and compareDocs within Office 365.
• Clinlab, a subsidiary of Rennova Health (RNVA) entered into an agreement with the Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness to provide technology for faster, more efficient processing and reporting of lab tests.
• Northwest Natural Gas Company (NWN), dba NW Natural, of Portland, Oregon and Carnot Compression LLC based in Scotts Valley, California have formed a consortium to build and test an innovative CNG refueling unit.

5:31 am Range Resources provides Q4 production (RRC) :

Co reports oil and gas production for the period was 50,311 bbls (average of 547 bopd) net to Range, which is a 5% decrease from 575 bopd in the previous quarter.

• The decrease was due to a combination of factors, principally a lack of new wells put on production during the quarter and natural decline of existing wells.
• Three additional new drilling rigs arrived in Trinidad during the quarter (four new rigs in total with drilling capabilities of 4,000, 2,000, 1,500, and 1,000 metres).
• These rigs are awaiting certification by the government.

5:02 am Novartis AG misses by $0.10, misses on revs; sees flat FY16 outlook for EPS and revs (NVS) :

• Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.12 per share, $0.10 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.22; revenues fell 12.8% year/year to $12.52 bln vs the $12.68 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
  • Net sales up 5% (cc) and core operating income up 10% (cc)
• Divididend: Dividend of CHF 2.70 per share, up 4%, proposed for 2015
• Outlook: Netsales and core operating income expected to be broadly in line with prior year

4:56 am United Micro beats by $0.13, reports revs in-line (UMC) :

• Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.25 per share, $0.13 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.12; revenues fell 9.1% year/year to $33.85 bln vs the $33.71 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
• Quarter-over-Quarter Guidance:
  • Wafer Shipments: To remain flat
  • ASP in USD: ASP softness offset by favorable USD to NTD exchange rate
  • Profitability: Gross profit margin will be in high teens % range
  • 2016 CAPEX for Foundry Segment: $2.2bn
    

4:47 am Gold Fields reports in-line production for FY15 (GFI) :

Co reports FY15 attributable equivalent gold production is expected to be 2.16Moz, which is within 1% of the original guidance (provided in February 2015) of 2.17Moz.

• Unit cost are expected to be lower than the improved guidance (published in November 2015) with All-in Sustaining Costs (AISCF) estimated at $1,020/oz (guidance: $1,035/oz) and All-in Costs (AIC) at $1,035/oz (guidance: $1,055/oz). The original guidance (February 2015) for AISC and AIC was $1,055/oz and $1,075/oz, respectively.
• For Q4 2015, Group attributable equivalent gold production is expected to be 566.0koz (Q3 2015: 556.7koz), with AISC of $940/oz (Q3 2015: $948/oz) and AIC of $950/oz (Q3 2015: $961/oz)

4:46 am On The Wires (:WIRES) :

• Chevron (CVX) announced that its fully-owned subsidiary Unocal East China Sea began natural gas production from the first stage of the Chuandongbei Project in southwest China. Chuandongbei is one of the largest onshore gas projects developed by an international oil company and a national oil company in China.
• Pure Minutes and Western Union (WU) announced an agreement that will unite international calling solutions with one of the world's leaders in global payment services. The arrangement connects Pure Minutes with a substantial customer base that seeks quality long-distance calling and reliable money transfer solutions.
• Clavister (CLAV) entered strategic partnership with Nokia Networks (NOK) to develop and deliver advanced virtual security solutions for telcos and mobile network operators (MNOs).
• Volvo Group (VOLVY) is introducing a brand-based organization with clearer commercial accountability for the Group's various truck brands. Four separate units will be created: Volvo Trucks, UD Trucks, Renault Trucks and Mack Trucks, each with profit and loss responsibility for their respective business.
• Enea (ENEA) announced a new milestone in the evolution of the community based Enea Linux distribution.
• Infoblox (BLOX) announced Infoblox Reporting and Analytics, a powerful solution that unlocks the hidden value of core network services data.
  

4:42 am TAL Education beats by $0.05, beats on revs; guides Q4 revs above consensus (XRS) :

• Reports Q3 (Nov) earnings of $0.19 per share, $0.05 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.14; revenues rose 43.1% year/year to $142.2 mln vs the $137.15 mln Capital IQ Consensus.
• Co issues upside guidance for Q4, sees Q4 revs of $166.3-168.8 mln vs. $159.45 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• Total student enrollments increased by 56.8% year-over-year to approximately 477,960 from approximately 304,910 in the same period of the prior year.
• Total physical network increased to 301 learning centers in 24 cities as of November 30, 2015 from 300 in 19 cities as of August 31, 2015.

4:39 am STMicroelectronics misses by $0.01, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 revs above consensus; to restructure Set Top Business (STM) :

• Reports Q4 (Dec) net of breakeven, $0.01 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.01; revenues fell 8.8% year/year to $1.67 bln vs the $1.66 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
• Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees Q1 revs of -3% sequentially to ~$1.62 bln vs. $1.61 bln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• Review of co's Set Top Business
  • As a result of this, the Company announced a global workforce review, including:
  • A global workforce re-alignment that may affect approximately 1,400 employees worldwide, of which about 430 in France through
  • Annualized savings are estimated at $170 million upon completion and restructuring costs at about $170 million.
    
    

4:31 am Endurance International to offer $350 mln of senior unsecured notes due 2024 (EIGI) :  

4:30 am Timberline Resources voluntarily delists from NYSE (TLR) :

• The voluntary delisting is part of Timberline's on-going emphasis on cost control and cash conservation.

4:29 am Timmins Gold re-fi's existing $10.2 million secured credit facility (TGD) :

Co reports that it has finalized an agreement with Sprott Resource Lending Partnership and Goldcorp (GG) to re-finance its existing $10.2 million secured credit facility.

• The new credit facility is effective as of January 26, 2016 and has a maturity date of June 30, 2016. Interest is payable monthly at the rate of 12% per annum, and the principal amount outstanding is payable on the maturity date.

4:28 am Vapor receives non-compliance notice from NASDAQ; intends to request hearing (VPCO) :

The Staff indicated that, given the potential for dilution of Vapor's shareholders that may be caused by the cashless exercise provision of Vapor's Series A warrants, the Staff believes that the grace period provided to Vapor to regain compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement is no longer warranted.

• Vapor plans to request a hearing before the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel

4:24 am Apt Inv & Mgt raises quarterly div by 33% to $0.33 per share (AIV) :