Check out the companies making headlines before the opening bell: Starbucks – Shares in the coffee chain have risen almost 2% after CNBC reported that Starbucks had withdrawn bids for potential stock sales that value its subsidiaries of up to $10 billion. The final selection can take place in two months, but the transaction itself may not be completed by the end of this year. AES – Shares jumped nearly 14% following a Bloomberg report that energy companies are investigating potential sales amid interest from infrastructure investors. Verona Pharma – Stocks have skyrocketed 20% after Merck bought UK-based Verona Pharma in a deal of about $10 billion to expand its respiratory therapy portfolio. Merck’s shares have been slightly higher. UnitedHealth – Health insurance companies saw shares fall more than 1% after the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice Criminal Health and Fueled Unit cited people familiar with the issue and that the Department of Justice Criminal Health and Fuel Supply Unit is investigating the company’s Medicare claims practices. Solaredge Technologies – Solared plants fell more than 2% of the market after Goldman Sachs downgraded its name to neutral, citing general market uncertainty across the residential sector. Mobileye Global – Shares in the Autonomous Driver Company fell almost 2% after an Intel subsidiary announced that it would unlock 45 million shares of Mobileye Global in the underwritten secondary offering. WPP – Advertising company shares sank almost 16% after WPP said there had been a “deteriorating performance” in the second quarter. The company has reduced its year-round guidance for revenue, pass-through costs, and operating profit. Bloom Energy – After JPMorgan upgrade upgraded from neutral to overweight, the energy stock jumped over 6%. The bank said Bloom Energy could benefit from President Donald Trump’s recently signed tax bill. – Reported by CNBC’s Sean Conlon, Michele Fox, Sarah Minh and Jesse Pound.
