U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday's session are Express Inc. (EXPR) and OpenTable Inc. (OPEN).

Private-equity firm Sycamore Partners reported a 9.9% stake in Express and said it is interested in conducting due diligence that could lead to a buyout of the retailer. Shares surged 27% to $17.20 premarket.

Priceline Group Inc. (PCLN) agreed to buy restaurant-booking service OpenTable for $2.6 billion in cash, broadening the online travel giant's offering into a new field at a time when some of its more established brands mature. Priceline offered $103 a share in cash for the company, a 46% premium over its closing price Thursday. OpenTable was halted premarket, while Yelp Inc. (YELP), GrubHub Inc. (GRUB) and Groupon Inc. (GRPN) each jumped more than 5%.

 
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William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. has asked a Delaware court to confirm that its recent push for a special meeting of Allergan Inc. (AGN) shareholders won't trigger the Botox maker's poison pill.

Citigroup Inc. (C) on Friday said it reached a deal to sell its consumer-banking business in Greece, as well as its Diners Club of Greece SA credit-card unit, to Alpha Bank. The deal includes 480,000 customers, $1.4 billion in deposits and $540 million in card and loan accounts.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee Thursday unanimously recommended the use of C.R. Bard Inc.'s (BCR) Lutonix drug-coated balloon PTA catheter to treat patients with femoral and popliteal arterial blockages.

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD) disclosed on Thursday the revenue it receives for routing trade orders to certain venues for execution. The disclosure comes as regulators step up scrutiny of the relationship between trading venues and high-speed traders.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA, TEVA.TV) said an appeals court upheld a federal judge's ruling that Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s (BMY) patent for hepatitis B treatment Baraclude is invalid, allowing Teva to sell a generic version.

Vivus Inc. (VVUS) said it filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Actavis PLC (ACT) alleging that the drug maker's planned generic version of weight-loss drug Qsymia infringes its patents.

Write to Maria Armental at [e-mail]

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