MARKET PULSE-Intercept Pharma, Exxon, Google, Macy's, Amag

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U.S. stocks dipped on Thursday, weighed by Exxon Mobil (TLO: XOM-U.TI - news) and retailers, as an earlier boost from upbeat labor market data lost steam. Dow Jones industrial average futures were down 0.23 percent at 16,370, S&P 500 futures were down 0.05 percent at 1,831.5 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.47 percent at 3,548.

** INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS INC (NasdaqGS: ICPT - news) , $285, +293.70 pct

The company said an analysis by an independent safety committee showed that its liver disease drug met the main goal of a mid-stage trial.

** EXXON MOBIL CORP, $99.76, -0.97 pct

Citigroup (NYSE: C - news) cut its rating on the oil company's stock to "neutral" to "buy."

** GOOGLE INC (NasdaqGS: GOOG - news) , $1,130, -0.98 pct

India's election regulator dropped plans on Thursday to partner the company on a project to ease voter access to information, after a backlash against the move from campaigners who fear Google and the U.S. government could use it for spying.

** SKYWEST INC (NasdaqGS: SKYW - news) ,$14.02, -5.65 pct

Deutsche Bank (Xetra: DBK.DE - news) downgraded the airline's stock to "hold" from "buy" and cut its price target on the stock to $15 from $20, citing reduced earnings forecast for 2014 and 2015.

** SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES INC (NasdaqGS: SGMO - news) , $18.61, +36.34 pct

** BIOGEN IDEC INC (NasdaqGS: BIIB - news) , $290.87, +0.30 pct

The company said it would collaborate with Biogen to develop treatments for a group of inherited blood disorders. Biogen will pay Sangamo $20 million upfront, and use Sangamo's gene-based technology to develop the drugs.

** YRC WORLDWIDE INC (NasdaqGS: YRCW - news) , $17.58, -5.79 pct

The deadline for a union members' vote to extend the employment of about 26,000 workers at the trucker expired on Wednesday. The counting of ballots is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning, with results expected by the end of day, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' website. (http://r.reuters.com/ban85v)

The Teamsters' vote is key to YRC Worldwide's plan to refinance debt. The Overland Park, Kansas-based company has to start repaying debt of more than $1 billion from February.

YRC Worldwide's shares had more than doubled to Wednesday's close since the company said on Dec. 9 it expected annual savings of up to $100 million if union members voted to extend the contract.

** TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD, $6.56, +4.13 pct

Analysts at Maxim Group started their coverage of the shipping company with a "buy" rating, citing its diverse fleet of 47 tankers, which allows the company to ferry a broad range of liquids. Analysts also said the company's strong safety record and its trade relationships will help Tsakos Energy (Frankfurt: TK4.F - news) tap rising demand for transporting liquefied natural gas.

** CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGIES INC (NasdaqCM: CDTI - news) , $2.25, +18.42 pct

The auto engine manufacturer is set to benefit from the need to retrofit older heavy duty diesel trucks and for distributors of new heavy duty diesel trucks to get new verified emission reduction systems, investment website Seeking Alpha said in an article on Thursday. Governments across the world are pushing for measures to curb environmental emissions. (http://r.reuters.com/xen85v)

** PIER 1 IMPORTS INC (NYSE: PIR - news) , $20.55, -11.88 pct

The furniture retailer cut its fourth-quarter profit forecast after saying December sales were below its expectation due to the cold weather. The company said December same-store sales fell 5.7 percent, before adjusting for the calendar shift. Same-store sales rose 8.2 percent a year earlier.

** AETERNA ZENTARIS INC, $1.18, -19.18 pct

The biopharmaceutical company priced its public offering of 11 million units at $1.20 per unit, a discount of about 18 percent to the stock's Wednesday close. Each unit consists of one common share and 0.8 warrant for one common share.

** EHEALTH INC (NasdaqGS: EHTH - news) , $56.6497, +18.96 pct

Cowen and Co analysts said acceleration in fourth-quarter member growth at the private healthcare exchange was unprecedented and raised their price target on the company's stock to $55 from $45.

Analyst Kevin Kopelman also raised his long-term profit estimates due to higher topline growth.

** FEDERAL-MOGUL CORP, $20.1, -12.49 pct

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) downgraded the auto parts supplier's stock to "sell" from "neutral", citing outsized valuation.

** MONTAGE TECHNOLOGY INC, $22.43, +14.44 pct

The China-based fabless chipmaker estimated fourth-quarter revenue above analysts' average expectation, helped by higher sales of its memory interface products and set-top box products at home and in the emerging markets.

** EXFO INC (Toronto: EXF.TO - news) $4.25, -11.46 pct

At least four brokerages cut their price targets on the company's stock after the communications testing equipment maker reported a lower-than-expected first-quarter profit.

EXFO late on Wednesday reported a 6 percent drop in sales mainly due to lower demand in the United States.

Analysts at Pradigm Capital said they were more concerned by the rate and consistency (since 2011) of revenue decline.

** ACUITY BRANDS INC (NYSE: AYI - news) , $127.94, +16.28 pct

The lighting-fixture maker reported first-quarter results that beat analysts' estimates, helped by an increase in sales volume and improved margins.

** VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORP, $15.32, -9.83 pct

The audio equipment maker on Thursday cut its full-year revenue forecast, hurt by lower sales in its international markets.

** SIGNET JEWELERS LTD, $74.79, -6.13 pct

** ZALE CORP, $14.94, -9.51 pct

Signet estimated fourth-quarter earnings below analysts' estimates as it expects additional discounting to result in lower-than-expected gross margins.

Rival Zale's shares also fell on the news.

** AMAG PHARMACEUTICALS INC (NasdaqGS: AMAG - news) $20.795, -13.17 pct

The company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is yet to enter into discussions regarding labeling or postmarketing requirements for the expanded use of its drug Feraheme, stoking fears that the approval may be delayed.

The FDA has set a review date of Jan. 21 for Feraheme, which is already approved to treat iron-deficiency anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease. Amag intends to expand its use to treat adult patients with iron-deficiency anemia who cannot tolerate oral iron.

** INTERMUNE INC (NasdaqGS: ITMN - news) , $16.4, +8.39 pct

The company said it expects revenue of about $25.6 million from its lung disease drug, Esbriet, in the fourth quarter, ahead of analysts' estimates of $22.7 million.

Intermune also said it expects revenue of $115 million to $135 million from the drug in 2014. Analysts were expecting $132.1 million in revenue in 2014, according to Thomson Reuters (Frankfurt: TOC.F - news) I/B/E/S.

The company said it expects to report data from a late-stage trial on the drug in the second quarter of 2014, after which it will seek marketing approval for the drug in the U.S.

Esbriet, the company's sole revenue earner, is currently sold in the European Union and Canada.

** BED BATH & BEYOND INC (NasdaqGS: BBBY - news) , $68.92, -13.50 pct

The home furnishings retailer cut its full-year earnings forecast due to a lowered sales expectation and weakening margins.

** SEQUENOM INC (NasdaqGS: SQNM - news) , $2.65, +7.72 pct

The genetic tests maker said the European Patent Office on Jan. 1 granted a patent to its methods to detect chromosomal abnormality in a fetus using gene sequencing.

The patent is an important part of Sequenom's prenatal diagnostic patent portfolio, with coverage across all countries in the European Union.

** CALIX INC (NYSE: CALX - news) , $8.7, -5.84 pct

The telecom equipment maker estimated fourth-quarter results that were way below analysts' expectations due to a greater-than-expected decline in traditional year-end "budget flush" customer spending patterns than the company has historically experienced.

** GW PHARMACEUTICALS PLC (NasdaqGM: GWPH - news) , $43.15, +13.37 pct

The French drug agency has approved the U.K.-based company's cannabis-based spray, Sativex, for people suffering from multiple sclerosis.

** FAMILY DOLLAR STORES INC (NYSE: FDO - news) , $63.01, -5.02 pct

The discount chain reported a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit and gave a tepid outlook for the current period after it discounted more than it had originally planned to win shoppers in the key holiday shopping season.

** MACY'S INC, $55.84, +7.72 pct

The department store operator reported strong holiday season sales and gave a preliminary forecast for 2014 that suggests it would continue to outpace its rivals.

** ACASTI PHARMA INC (NasdaqCM: ACST - news) , $1.3999, -0.01 pct

The biopharmaceuticals company said the U.S. health regulator has given its nod for initiation of a pharmacokinetic study of its experimental drug CaPre.

The study aims to test how the human body deals with the drug, which is being developed to prevent and treat hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertriglyceridemia is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of triglycerides, or blood fats, in the bloodstream.

** BUFFALO WILD WINGS INC (NasdaqGS: BWLD - news) , $146.225, -3.48 pct

Morgan Stanley (Berlin: DWD.BE - news) cut its rating on the quick-service restaurant chain's stock to "underweight" from "overweight", according to Theflyonthewall.com

** QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, $82.2, -7.64 pct

The Chinese Internet company denied on Thursday that e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (IPO-ALIB.N) would take a stake in the company after its shares surged almost 10 percent on Wednesday on speculation the two were in talks.

** MCKESSON CORP, $175.08, +3.10 pct

The U.S. drugs wholesale group on Thursday lifted its offer for Celesio AG (Other OTC: CAKFF - news) in a bid to win over hedge fund Elliott, a source familiar with the talks said.

** J.C. PENNEY CO INC, $7.7, +4.48 pct

Piper Jaffray upgraded its rating on the department store operator's stock to "overweight" from "neutral," according to Theflyonthewall.com.

J.C Penney shares slid 8 percent on Wednesday after the department store chain said it was "pleased" with its holiday sales performance, but skimped on specifics. The lack of detail in the Penney release fueled speculation that its turnaround is stalling.

** ZUMIEZ INC (NasdaqGS: ZUMZ - news) , $24.16, -7.72 pct

Janney Capital Markets cut its fair value on the sports retailer's stock to $26 from $27 after the company lowered its fourth-quarter sales and adjusted earnings per share forecast.

The brokerage also cut its estimates for the retailer's adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2013, 2014 and 2015.

** DISH NETWORK CORP (NasdaqGS: DISH - news) , $56.03, -3.33 pct

The satellite television company is terminating its bid for LightSquared Inc, the bankrupt telecom firm whose wireless spectrum Dish has been coveting, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

** GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC (NYSE: GPN - news) , $67.19, +4.32 pct

Analysts at multiple brokerages raised their price targets after the payment processor on Wednesday reported better-than-expected second-quarter results due to growth in its international business.

"Positive trends in Canada and Europe, solid and sustained margin performance, and a second consecutive quarterly beat for revenues and EPS are all positive indications the company is continuing to turn the corner," analysts at Janney Capital Markets said.

** L BRANDS INC (NYSE: LB - news) , $57.52, -4.44 pct

The parent of Victoria's Secret cut its fourth-quarter earnings forecast as it expects promotions to hurt its merchandise margins.

** ENERNOC INC (NasdaqGS: ENOC - news) , $20.4696, -2.76 pct

Analysts at J.P. Morgan Securities downgraded the power management company to "neutral" from "overweight", based on valuation. The brokerage cited U.S. power grid operator PJM's 2016 auction last May, which secured much lower prices than previous year's auction. PJM operates the power grid in parts of 13 U.S. Mid-Atlantic (Frankfurt: 98S.F - news) and Midwest states, including New Jersey and Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

** FRONTLINE LTD (LSE: FRO.L - news) , $4.87, +5.64 pct

The market for large crude oil tankers will likely be stronger in 2014 than the average 2013 level, the company's Chief Executive Jens Martin Jensen said on Thursday. The company is one of the world's biggest crude shippers.

** ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES INC (NYSE: ANR - news) , $6.27, -3.83 pct

** WALTER ENERGY INC (NYSE: WLT - news) , $14.13, -3.09 pct

** TECK RESOURCES, $23.84, -2.13 pct

Cowen and Co analysts cut their ratings on the coal producers to "market perform" from "outperform", saying ample global supply, new production, and muted demand will keep prices depressed for steel-making metallurgical coal. (Compiled by Rohit T.K. in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)