BUZZ-U.S. Stocks on the Move-Linn Energy, Cytori, United Continental

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U.S. stocks opened lower on Wednesday with energy stocks down for a fourth day in five as crude prices touched fresh five-year lows. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.38 percent at 17,733.72, the S&P 500 was down 0.27 percent at 2,054.25 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.14 percent at 4,760.

** GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC (Other OTC: GLAXF - news) , $43.42, -1.56 pct

Bank of America Merrill Lynch cut its rating to "underperform" from "neutral" on Britain's biggest drugmaker , citing near-term margin pressures, lower long-term expectations for new respiratory products and reduced buybacks given lower earnings.

** UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS INC, $64.57, +3.28 pct

** DELTA AIR LINES INC (NYSE: DAL - news) , $47.15, +1.77 pct

** SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (NYSE: LUV - news) , $42.04, +3.22 pct

Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) raised its rating to "overweight" from "underweight" and price target to $76 from $52 on U.S. airline operator United Continental (NYSE: UAL - news) 's stock.

The company is expected to outperform Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines in 2015, analyst David Fintzen wrote in note.

** GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORP (NYSE: GDP - news) , $3.72, -9.05 pct

The oil and gas company said it would explore strategic options for all or a part of its Eagle Ford shale assets in South Texas to boost liquidity, as oil prices fall. The company, which had cash and cash equivalents of $2.2 million as of Sept. 30, said this would "significantly enhance" its ability to fund development activities when oil prices recover.

** ARCA BIOPHARMA INC (NasdaqCM: ABIO - news) , $0.8699, +8.60 pct

The U.S. FDA granted orphan drug designation to Arca's experimental drug as a potential treatment of viral hemorrhagic fever post-exposure to Ebola virus. ARCA's drug, rNAPc2, has demonstrated post-exposure efficacy in animal models of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus. It was originally developed as a cardiovascular therapy for thrombosis and other indications.

** OASIS PETROLEUM INC (NYSE: OAS - news) , $11.65, -7.98 pct

The oil producer said its capital budget will nearly halve next year as global crude prices plunge. The company said it expected to spend $750 million-$850 million in 2015. Of its 2014 budget of $1.43 billion, Oasis had spent $1.1 billion as of Sept. 30.

** JPMORGAN CHASE & CO (Xetra: 850628 - news) , $62.13, -0.51 pct

Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer says the bank will need more than $20 billion of additional capital to comply with the proposed extra capital cushion for the largest U.S. banks.

"While we're still reviewing the Fed's proposal, we are well capitalized and intend to meet their requirements and time frames...," JPMorgan (LSE: JPIU.L - news) spokesman Andrew Gray said.

** CYTORI THERAPEUTICS INC (NasdaqGM: CYTX - news) , $0.4999, +7.53 pct

The U.S. FDA granted conditional approval for a key clinical trial to evaluate the company's cell therapy as a potential treatment for impaired hand function in scleroderma patients. Cytori's technology, called the Celution System, needs a successful pivotal trial and FDA approval before it can be marketed in the United States.

** LINN ENERGY LLC, $13.6572, -6.59 pct

Stifel analysts cut their price target on the oil and gas company's stock to $22 from $27, citing a lower commodity price environment. The median price target on stock is $25, according to Thomson Reuters data.

** SEADRILL LTD, $11.68, -4.03 pct

UBS (NYSEArca: FBGX - news) cut its price target on the Norway-based offshore driller's Oslo-listed shares to NOK 85 from NOK 210, citing lower oil prices. Analysts expect Brent to average below $70/bbl in 2015 and also cited current market condition having a negative affect on demand for deepwater units.

** COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP, $144.6, +1.09 pct

The warehouse club operator reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as increased promotions helped it deal with fierce competition. The company, which caters to relatively higher-income customers than Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Target Corp (NYSE: TGT - news) , reported a 7 percent rise in same-store sales, excluding fuel.

** BELDEN INC (NYSE: BDC - news) , $82.8, +10.52 pct

The maker of networking and cable products said it will buy Tripwire, a Portland-based cyber security firm, for $710 million. The company said the transaction will add 65 cents per share to adjusted income from continuing operations in 2015.

** KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS INC (NYSE: KKD - news) , $19.09, -5.40 pct

The doughnut retailer on Tuesday reported third-quarter profit and sales below expectations, hurt by higher promotions to boost traffic and lower sales at company-owned stores, compared with a year earlier.

** GOLDMAN SACHS (NYSE: GS-PB - news) , $195.83, -0.54 pct

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday proposed requiring eight of the largest U.S. banks to hold an extra capital cushion, and said the firms will need more equity if they rely on risky types of debt. Most of the banks, which include Citigroup (NYSE: C - news) and Goldman Sachs, would be held to higher capital requirements than under a similar rule by global regulators, officials said.

** COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP (NasdaqGS: CMTL - news) , $37.66, -3.31 pct

The communications equipment maker decided to remain independent after completing review of strategic alternatives. Comtech had begun its review in August, saying that merger or sale of the company was possible.

** NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE, $2.04, -1.92 pct

The largest Greek bank's U.S.-listed shares continue to fall as government surprises by bringing forward presidential vote, a political gamble that increases uncertainty over Greece's transition from bailout.

** FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC, $24.78, -1.39 pct

The U.S. miner has agreed to pay 16.3 percent more in annual processing charges to large Chinese copper smelters in 2015, with the 10-year high fee likely to set the benchmark for China. (Compiled by Lehar Maan in Bengaluru,; Editing by Simon Jennings)