BUZZ-U.S. STOCKS ON THE MOVE-Oil stocks, Auspex Pharma, OnDeck Capital

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U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday on the heels of a three-session losing streak and ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's final statement of the year that may set the stage for interest rate hikes in 2015. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.69 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.89 percent and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.7 percent.

** SWIFT ENERGY CO (NYSE: SFY - news) , $3.73, +25.17 pct

** BILL BARRETT CORP (NYSE: BBG - news) , $10.08, +17.48 pct

** LINN ENERGY LLC, $14.075, +12.24 pct

** BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS LP, $8.4799, +10.85 pct

** GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORP (NYSE: GDP - news) , $4.72, +14.01 pct

** OASIS PETROLEUM INC (NYSE: OAS - news) , $16.14, +13.42 pct

** CALLON PETROLEUM CO, $5.31, +17.48 pct

Brent crude oil moved above $60 a barrel on Wednesday as U.S. data showed falling crude inventories, stemming deep losses brought on by a supply glut and signals from OPEC producers and Russia that they will not cut production.

"I think we're just seeing a lot of short covering going into the end of the year," Keybanc Capital Markets analyst David Deckelbaum said.

** AUSPEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC (NasdaqGM: ASPX - news) , $50.56, +101.51 pct

The drug developer says drug for treating chorea, or involuntary movement associated with Huntington's disease, met the main goal in a late-stage study.

** HERZFELD CARIBBEAN BASIN FUND, $9.1599, +34.51 pct

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) of the fund, which invests in companies in countries of Caribbean Basin, rose in trade on Tuesday following reports of U.S. planning to ease Cuba policy. U.S. President Barack Obama was set to announce a major shift in policy toward Cuba on Wednesday, which would include the opening of an embassy in Havana and the start of talks to normalize relations, officials and media said.

** ON DECK CAPITAL INC, $27.66, +38.30 pct

The online lender's shares rose as much as 37 percent in their debut, valuing the company at up to $1.8 billion. The company raised $200 million after its initial public offering was priced at $20 per share, well above the expected range of $16-$18.

** VOLCANO CORP, $17.845, +55.31 pct

Philips (Amsterdam: PHIA.AS - news) has agreed to acquire U.S.-based medical device maker Volcano Corp for $1.2 billion including debt, its largest healthcare acquisition in seven years and a bid to cash in on an ageing population's need for more complex treatments.

** DIGITAL RIVER INC (NasdaqGS: DRIV - news) , $24.12, +43.06 pct

The e-commerce services provider said Microsoft Corp extended a key e-commerce deal till March 31, 2017.

** RUBY TUESDAY INC (NYSE: RT - news) , $6.81, -16.13 pct

The restaurant chain operator said on Tuesday same-restaurant sales in the second quarter fell 1 percent at the company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

** NPS PHARMA INC, $35.08, +15.13 pct

** SHIRE PLC (Xetra: S7E.DE - news) , $213.435, +2.24 pct

Dublin-based Shire, whose proposed sale to AbbVie Inc fell apart in October, is considering an offer for U.S-based drug developer NPS Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS: NPSP - news) , Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

** INTERCLOUD SYSTEMS INC (NasdaqCM: ICLD - news) , $3.067, +10.32 pct

The telecom network services provider said it was recently awarded new contracts valued at over $2 million, taking its new-business backlog to $32 mln, up 24 percent from late September.

** CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC (NYSE: CLF - news) , $6.22, -8.53 pct

Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS - news) slashes price target on the iron-ore producer's shares to $1 from $10, saying Cliffs' $2.8 bln debt position is a big handicap for the company's balance sheet and near-term earnings potential is insufficient to support current level of indebtedness. Brokerage has "underperform" rating on the stock, which is at its lowest in over a decade. Stock top loser on the New York Stock Exchange.

** POZEN INC (NasdaqGS: POZN - news) , $8.08, -10.52 pct

The company said two versions of its experimental heart drug were rejected for the second time by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which again cited deficiencies in the manufacturing plant of a supplier of an active ingredient.

** PARAMOUNT GOLD AND SILVER CORP (AMEX: PZG - news) , $0.8532, +33.25 pct

** COEUR MINING INC (NYSE: CDE - news) , $4.23, -7.44 pct

Paramount said it would be acquired by Coeur Mining for $146 mln in stock. The company said its shareholders will get 0.2016 Coeur share per share held, which works out to 92 cents per Paramount share based on Coeur's Tuesday close. The offer represents about 44 percent premium to Paramount's Tuesday close.

** YANDEX NV, $17.9201, +6.54 pct

** MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OAO, $6.7, +8.59 pct

** VIMPELCOM LTD (NasdaqGS: VIP - news) , $3.86, +17.33 pct

** QIWI PLC (NasdaqGS: QIWI - news) , $19.65, +5.08 pct

Russian companies' U.S.-listed shares rise after rouble gains against dollar following a dramatic selloff in the past few days.

** VISTEON CORP (Other OTC: VSTOW - news) , $100.83, +5.40 pct

The auto parts maker will sell its 70 percent stake in South Korean unit for $3.6 bln to PE firm Hahn & Co and Hankook Tire (KSE: 161390.KS - news) Co Ltd.

** AMERICAN APPAREL INC (AMEX: APP - news) , $0.6751, +16.40 pct

The clothing and accessories retailer named Paula Schneider as its chief executive, effective, Jan. 5, 2015. The company has fired its Chief Executive Officer Dov Charney six months after suspending him, ending a tenure racked with sexual assault allegations and scandal.

** CERUS CORP, $5.7999, +21.34 pct

The medical device maker said the U.S. FDA approved its device to reduce risk of infections in blood plasma transmitted during transfusions, such as HIV, hepatitis and West Nile virus.

** PANTRY INC, $35.45, +22.83 pct

The convenience-store chain is nearing a deal to sell itself through an auction, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Pantry's shares, which closed at $28.86 on Tuesday, have risen 135 percent since touching a 52-week low in February.

** TASER INTERNATIONAL INC (NasdaqGS: TASR - news) , $24.49, +7.18 pct

** DIGITAL ALLY INC (NasdaqCM: DGLY - news) , $15.7701, +9.67 pct

** IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS INC (NasdaqCM: ISNS - news) , $2.48, +5.08 pct

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti announced plan to equip 7,000 police officers with body cameras in 2015. Los Angeles Police Department bought 860 AXON body-worn video cameras from Taser and 5-year subscription to Evidence.com, a website to manage and share footage.

** PETROBRAS SA, $6.74, +7.32 pct

Senior management at Brazil's state-run oil company may have to resign to avoid further delays of the company's audited third-quarter earnings report, Chief Executive Maria das Graças Foster said on Wednesday.

** HALOZYME THERAPEUTICS INC (NasdaqGS: HALO - news) , $8.3299, +9.03 pct

The company licensed its drug delivery technology to a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ - news) unit for payments up to $581 million. The company said it would get additional royalty payments based on net sales of products using its Enhanze technology.

** FEDEX CORP, $166.465, -4.47 pct

The package delivery company reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as U.S. domestic package and international export volumes rose, and reaffirmed its full-year profit outlook.

** XL GROUP PLC (NYSE: XL - news) , $33.46, -4.43 pct

Catlin Group Ltd (LSE: CGL.L - news) , operator of the biggest syndicate in the Lloyd's of London insurance market, said it received a takeover approach from XL Group Plc that valued the company at 2.53 billion pounds ($3.98 billion).

** IAMGOLD CORP (Xetra: 899657 - news) , $2.31, +4.52 pct

** GOLD FIELDS LTD (Xetra: 862484 - news) , $4.18, +5.56 pct

** RANDGOLD RESOURCES LTD, $64.78, +4.86 pct

** YAMANA GOLD INC (Xetra: RNY.DE - news) , $3.74, +5.35 pct

Gold steadied below $1,200 an ounce on Wednesday as traders awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's last policy meeting of the year, when it may signal how soon it will raise interest rates.

** DAVE & BUSTER'S ENTERTAINMENT INC (NasdaqGS: PLAY - news) , $23.8, +10.03 pct

The restaurant and arcade chain operator forecast same-store sales growth of 5.5 to 6 pct for year ending Feb. 1. (Compiled by Anannya Pramanick in Bangalore; Edited by Don Sebastian)