In their latest tour, the legendary music band U2 is using amazing gadgetry of a double-sided screen to immerse themselves fully with fans during concerts. It was seen at the SAP Arena, their second stop on their 2015 Innocence & Experience tour, which took place the evening of May 19.
On these two screens are huge animations, which show colorful images to the audience. The screen, which bisects the roaring fans, creates a surreal effect. The band performs between the 1’s and 0’s of the screen, in the gap between the animations. It’s a visual powerhouse of technology, pop-art, and music.
The legendary hotel chain Hyatt Hotels are branching out into home rentals by investing in a startup called onefinestay. The startup specializes in providing a platform for people to rent private luxury homes. For Hyatt Hotels Corp., this investment marks a way to fulfill the needs of consumers who would rather rent a home than stay in a hotel room. It is rare to see a hotel operator pairing with a home rental company.
Xiamomi, a leading smartphone manufacturer in China, will soon sell its affordable accessories to the US, as well as to UK, Germany, and France. Previously it did not offer its products to any of these countries.
The new efforts are a test to see what the audience is response is before Xiaomi decides whether to sell its smartphones to the west. The accessories for sale will include headphones, portable battery packs, and fitness wristbands. All of these types of products very popular right now in the US.
Ampio Pharmaceuticals (AMPE) shares sunk Monday to their lowest level in 2.5 years after the biopharmaceutical company said its multiple-injection STRIDE study AP008 failed to reach its primary endpoint against the saline control even though there was a statistically significant reduction in pain compared with baseline for patients receiving Ampion. AMPE was down 61% at $3.10 in recent trading shortly after the open. It hit an intraday low so far of $3, its lowest level since September 2012; the stock’s previous 52-week low was $3.19.
Ampio had launched the Phase III program for Ampion, a low molecular weight filtrate of a Food and Drug Administration-approved biologic, to treat pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee. Each patient received three 4ml intra-articular injections of Ampion or the saline placebo, one at baseline, the second at two weeks and the third at four weeks. The company noted in osteoarthritis, saline is known to be a partial therapeutic and not a true placebo, but has been the control used in all published osteoarthritis drug trials.
In the STRIDE study, the saline control arm varied well out of a normal range when compared with previous Ampion studies and from the published results for other osteoarthritis drugs.
“Once we have had more time to analyze the STRIDE data, we will host a conference call to present our findings and answer questions from our shareholders,” the company said, adding it will meet with the FDA “as soon as practical.”
TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals (TLOG) shares are up more than 19% in early trading Monday after the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, said it has partnered with Merck (MRK) to study combination therapy to treat solid tumors.
The stock recently changed hands at $4.87, slightly below a session high of $5.29. The 52-week range is $3.51 – $6.86. Merck is up 1.6% at $57.83 and has a spread of $52.49 – $63.62. The Phase 1 study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of birinapant, TetraLogic’s SMAC-mimetic, in combination with KEYTRUDA, MRK’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
The study is expected to begin in late 2015. Under the terms of the agreement, TLOG will sponsor and fund the study and MRK will provide KEYTRUDA. The companies have formed a Joint Development Committee to collaboratively oversee the conduct of the study. Results from the study will be used to determine the path for further clinical development of the combination.
“Both molecules are designed to help the body’s immune system better attack cancer cells, and we think the combination could be very promising,” said Kevin Buchi, President and Chief Executive Officer of TLOG.
Hasbro (HAS) shares jumped to a fresh lifetime high Monday morning after the toy and board-game maker reported Q1 financial results that handily beat analysts’ expectations. Shares were up 7.5% in recent trading at $70.85, after earlier climbing to their new high of $71.62. The stock’s previous 52-week high was $66.32.
The company posted Q1 net income of $26.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with the prior-year period’s $32.1 million, or $0.24 per diluted share. The prior-year period included $0.10 per share in favorable tax adjustments. Analysts polled by Capital IQ were expecting EPS of $0.08 for the latest quarter.
Revenue was $713.5 million, up from $679.5 million in the same quarter last year and surpassing analysts’ mean estimate for revenue of $660.3 million. The company said the continued growth momentum in the quarter was led by its Entertainment and Licensing Segment, with net revenue rising 74% to $60.6 million. Segment growth was driven by Franchise Brands, particularly the increase in license revenue from My Little Pony and Transformers during the 2014 holiday period. Hasbro also cited underlying strength in demand across international markets, including the emerging markets.
Ford Motor (F) shares edged lower Wednesday after the auto maker said it is issuing three safety recalls for vehicles in North America. F was down 0.9% recently at $16.42, still trading in the upper half of its 52-week range between $13.26 and $18.12.
The company said it is recalling 212,911 2011-2013 Ford Explorer and Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles in North America for an issue with the spring that controls the interior door handles. If the spring is unseated the door may become unlatched in a side-impact crash, increasing the risk of injury. The auto maker said it isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries that are related to the issue.
It is also recalling 1,725 2013-2015 Lincoln MKT limo and hearse vehicles for an issue with the for an issue with the vacuum pump relay that could result in an underhood fire. The company said it is aware of two underhood fires but no accidents or injuries believed to be related to the issue.
Finally, Ford is recalling 6,6,472 2011-2013 Ford F-Series Super Duty ambulance vehicles and 2014-2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty ambulance and emergency vehicles equipped with 6.7-liter diesel engines in North America. It said the exhaust gas temperature sensors may not function properly, causing the vehicle to incorrectly identify a high temperature condition. Ford said it isn’t aware of accidents or injuries related to the condition.