US Stock Futures: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Friday's session are Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM), Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC) and ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISTA).

Research In Motion said its fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 71% after taking a $485 million, pretax, mostly noncash charge related to unsold PlayBook tablets. The company's quarterly earnings topped forecasts, but shares tumbled 11% to $13.54 in recent premarket trading as revenue slightly missed expectations and it gave downbeat fourth-quarter guidance.

Cablevision Systems said Chief Operating Officer Tom Rutledge will resign, ending his nearly 10-year tenure at the fifth-largest U.S. cable company. Shares dropped 9.1% to $12.66 in recent premarket trading.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (VRX) is proposing to acquire Irvine, Calif.-based ISTA Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company with eye-care and allergy drugs, for $6.50 a share in cash, a premium of about 67% over ISTA's closing price Thursday. ISTA's shares surged 64% to $6.37 in recent premarket trading.

Accenture PLC's (ACN) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 18%, continuing a streak of better-than-expected results, as each of the consulting and outsourcing company's five business segments reported double-digit revenue growth. But the consulting company lowered its full-year earnings forecast to reflect revised expectations for the effect of foreign-exchange rates. Shares slipped 1.3% to $55.40 premarket.

Adobe Systems Inc.'s (ADBE) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 35% on restructuring charges, but the software company's adjusted profit returned to growth on higher sales. Shares climbed 3.2% to $27.30 premarket.

Frontline Ltd. (FRO, FRO.LN) said it has raised $285 million in proceeds from the private placement of 100 million new ordinary shares to a group of institutional investors as part of its restructuring plan to create a new company Frontline 2012. Shares slipped 3.4% to $3.37 in premarket trading as the shipping company said it can't guarantee at this stage that the restructuring can be successfully completed by its target date of Dec. 31.

Spreadtrum Communications Inc. (SPRD) received approval to repurchase up to $50 million of its American depositary shares, coming on the heels of another buyback plan unveiled earlier this year. Shares rose 1% to $19.70 in light premarket trading.

Affymax Inc. (AFFY) said partner Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. (TKPYY, 4502.TO) opted not to commercialize its anemia treatment in Japan, deciding the product didn't fit with its strategic plans. Affymax shares fell 4.2% to $6.92 premarket.

United Rentals (URI) agreed to buy RSC Holdings Inc. (RRR) in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $1.87 billion that will expand the equipment rental company's presence in North America and accelerate its growth with industrial customers. United Rentals shares gained 5% to $27.34 premarket, and RSC surged 57% to $17.90.

AK Steel Holding Corp. (AKS) said it expects shipments and selling prices to rise in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, while operating costs are expected to fall from the previous quarter. Shares gained 1.8% to $7.46 premarket.

Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry's Restaurants Inc., agreed to buy Morton's Restaurant Group Inc. (MRT) in a deal that values the high-end steakhouse restaurant company at $116.6 million. Morton's shares jumped 32% to $6.80 premarket.

Quiksilver Inc. (ZQK) swung to a profit in its fiscal fourth quarter as a tax adjustment and improved revenue lifted the outdoor sports outfitter's bottom-line results. Shares gained 6.2% to $3.26 in recent premarket trading.

StemCells Inc. (STEM) said it plans to sell more common stock and warrants. The biomedical company disclosed a new offer to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including product development. Shares dropped 17% to $1.16 premarket.

 
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AAR Corp.'s (AIR) fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 4.3% as the aircraft-leasing-and-maintenance company posted double-digit sales gains in its supply chain business.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) Chairman and Chief Executive Kevin W. Sharer said he will retire next year, prompting the company to tap Chief Operating Officer Robert Bradway to steer it as its once-small businesses mature.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) disclosed plans to sell midstream assets in Wyoming for $483 million to Western Gas Partners LP (WES), a limited partnership formed by the oil-and-gas explorer.

Spirits maker Beam Inc. (BEAM) said it has agreed to buy the only remaining independent Irish whiskey distillery, Cooley Distillery, for about $95 million, in a deal that marks the company's entrance into one of the industry's fastest-growing categories.

Centene Corp. (CNC) gave a mostly upbeat view for the coming new year, as the Medicaid insurer also affirmed its 2011 view.

Electronics-components maker CTS Corp. (CTS) increased its quarterly dividend a half a cent to 3 cents a share.

Darden Restaurants Inc.'s (DRI) fiscal second-quarter earnings fell 28% on continued woes at the casual-dining company's Olive Garden restaurant chain.

Deer Consumer Products Inc. (DEER) affirmed its full-year guidance and said it remains on track to pay its quarterly dividend in the wake of what it called "false market rumors by a distressed online blogger" that sent its stock sharply lower at the end of Thursday's trading session.

Flowserve Corp. (FLS) issued a 2012 earnings guidance range largely below analysts' expectations, while the valve and pump producer's board outlined a plan for returning earnings to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Heico Corp.'s (HEI, HEIA) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 18%, helped by record high profit in its flight-support arm.

New York Times Co. (NYT) said Chief Executive Janet L. Robinson would retire at the end of the year, and Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. would serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a successor.

Activist investor Carl Icahn's slate of candidates for the Oshkosh Corp. (OSK) board would support merging Oshkosh with truck maker Navistar International Corp. (NAV), according to a regulatory filing Thursday.

St. Jude Medical Inc. (STJ) said its November letter about problems with some defibrillator wires was designated a Class I voluntary recall by the FDA, but the medical-device maker did not disclose any change in its instructions to doctors treating patients already using the product.

Stewart Enterprises Inc.'s (STEI) fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 5.9% on a sharply higher tax rate though the funeral-provider's funeral and cemetery segments benefited from higher revenue.

United Technologies Corp. (UTX) predicted the addition of Goodrich Corp. (GR) and the absence of share buybacks next year would pressure earnings in 2012, though it expected profit would grow excluding that takeover, despite revenue below analysts' estimates.

Global payments company Western Union Co. (WU) will pay $220 million to the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities to resolve tax issues stemming from the restructuring of its international operations in 2003.

YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCWD) said it sold some of the assets of its Glen Moore truckload unit to Celadon Group Inc. (CGI) as the struggling company continues to streamlines its operations.

-Edited by Ian Thomson and Corrie Driebusch; write to [e-mail] and [e-mail]