U.S. HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday's session are Dycom Industries Inc. (DY) and WellPoint Inc. (WLP).

Dycom's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 2.5%, but shares fell 13% to $16.49 after hours as the telecommunications contractor's results missed analyst expectations.

Under pressure from investors unhappy with the health insurer's performance and direction, WellPoint Chief Executive Angela Braly resigned Tuesday, and the company's board said it would begin a search for a permanent replacement. Shares rose 3.3% to $59.29 after hours.

 
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Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) on review for a potential upgrade, citing the wholesale-club operator's strong profitability and debt-reduction efforts.

A ruling on how much Morgan Stanley (MS) will pay Citigroup Inc. (C) to increase its stake in their Morgan Stanley Smith Barney wealth-management venture will be delayed until Sept. 10.

Sealed Air Corp.'s (SEE) Chief Executive William V. Hickey plans to retire from the plastic-packaging company in March, and Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) veteran Jerome A. Peribere was named as his successor.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SPPI) said the Federal Trade Commission has cleared its acquisition of Allos Therapeutics Inc. (ALTH), a deal that will boost the company's hematology franchise.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its credit ratings for Washington Post Co. (WPO) on watch for a possible downgrade, noting the deterioration at the company's higher education and newspaper divisions is expected to continue.

Write to Nathalie Tadena at [e-mail]

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