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

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday's shortened session are KIT digital Inc. (KITD), Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM) and OCZ Technology Group Inc. (OCZ).

The former chief executive of KIT digital Inc. has accused the company of seeking to "scapegoat prior management" for its current problems and said he is prepared to lead a group to buy KIT for $193 million, an offer that comes two days after the software company said it would restate financial results due to accounting errors. KIT's shares fell 53% to 94 cents in recent premarket trading.

National Bank sees good things ahead for BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion when it launches its much-anticipated BlackBerry 10 line of smartphones. National, which bumped up its target price to $15 from $12, suggests buying RIM stock ahead of the launch, when it expects shipment estimates to climb. The firm upped its fiscal 2014 shipment view to 35.5M units from 31.6M, helped by an extra month of BB10 product availability. National says RIM management seems to be preparing for February availability, which it says is a month earlier than most analysts expected. Research In Motion's shares climbed 12% to $11.53 in recent premarket trading.

MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MAPP) said its New Drug Application resubmission for its orally inhaled migraine drug, Levadex, for the potential acute treatment of migraine in adults has been accepted for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Shares climbed 8.4% to $13.89 in recent premarket trading.

Data-storage provider OCZ Technology disclosed it is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, after the company recently reported that it is reviewing its financial statements. Shares fell 8.4% to $1.09 in recent premarket trading.

CNH Global NV (CNH) investors took heart after Fiat Industrial SpA (FNDSF, FI.MI) confirmed Thursday that a committee of directors for CNH reacted favorably to its sweetened offer to buy out the company's minority shareholders, adding that a final merger agreement may be reached within days. Shares popped 5.5% to $50.11 in recent premarket trading.

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) shares climbed after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledged Wednesday that aplastic anemia is a rare disease, confirming that potential treatments for the condition are eligible for orphan drug status. Israel-based Pluristem--which develops placenta-based cell therapies--in August applied to the FDA for orphan drug status for its placental expanded cells treatment for aplastic anemia. Shares rose 5.4% to $3.50 in recent premarket trading after climbing 4.7% during Wednesday's regular session.

 
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BGC Partners Inc. (BGCP) is offering up to 20 million shares to raise funds for general corporate purposes including possible acquisitions and broker hires.

Citigroup Inc. (C) unveiled offers to purchase up to $18.44 billion principal amount of 12 series of outstanding notes, a move the bank said reflects its continued robust liquidity position.

General Motors Co. (GM) clinched a $4.2 billion deal Wednesday to purchase Ally Financial Inc.'s European, Latin American and China operations, doubling the size of the auto maker's lending arm.

Consumer-products maker Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (RBGPY, RB.LN) signed a $1.4 billion deal to acquire Schiff Nutrition International Inc. (SHF) on Wednesday, outbidding drug and chemical firm Bayer AG (BAYRY, BAYN.XE).

-Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at [e-mail]

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