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Apollo, Charles Schwab, Quicksilver, Titan: U.S. Equity Movers

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) — Shares of the following companies had unusual moves in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and prices are as of 4 p.m. in New York.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN US) fell 2.1 percent to $131.38, declining for a second day. The largest Internet retailer may slide if the company is unable to sustain the sales and earnings forecasts reflected in the price of its shares, Barron’s reported, without citing anyone.

Apollo Group Inc. (APOL US) added 9.7 percent, the most since Jan. 9, to $62.06. The Phoenix-based agreed to settle a whistleblower lawsuit brought by two former employees over the way it paid recruiters for its University of Phoenix subsidiary.

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (BKD US) added 6 percent, the most since Nov. 3, to $18.37. The operator of assisted living homes for seniors was added to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s “conviction buy-list” with a target price of $22.

California Micro Devices Corp. (CAMD US) surged the most since April 2001, rising 53 percent to $4.67. The chipmaker agreed to be bought by ON Semiconductor Corp. (ONNN US) for $4.70 a share.

Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW US) slid 3.7 percent, the most since Oct. 15, to $17.75. The largest independent U.S. brokerage by client assets, forecast less profit in the fourth quarter than analysts estimated because of lower interest rates and less trading.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SNP US) jumped 6.5 percent, the most since May 4, to $88.30. The company known as Sinopec rose on speculation that it may buy oil and gas assets from its state-run parent.

Citigroup Inc. (C US) fell 6.3 percent to $3.70, the lowest price since Aug. 11. The recipient of the biggest U.S. bank bailout struck a deal with regulators to repay $20 billion to taxpayers. Citigroup will raise the funds with a sale of $20.5 billion of equity and debt.

Gannett Co. (GCI US) increased 5.1 percent to $13.83, the highest price since Oct. 22. The USA Today publisher was raised to “buy” from “hold” at Benchmark & Co., which cited “a steadily improving outlook, a sound long-term management strategy and an attractive stock valuation.”

GTx Inc. (GTXI US) slid 2.3 percent to $3.80, the steepest decline since Nov. 27. The developer of a drug to prevent broken bones in prostate-cancer patients said it will cut 28 percent of its staff after the drug was delayed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Hansen Medical Inc. (HNSN US) jumped 8.6 percent to $2.90, the biggest gain since Nov. 11. The maker of medical robotics settled litigation against Luna Innovations Inc. (LUNA US) under an agreement that will give Hansen Medical a 9.9 percent stake in Luna and rights to certain Luna technology.

Luna surged 62 percent to $2.38.

Lionbridge Technologies Inc. (LIOX US) rose 7 percent, the most since Nov. 5, to $2.14. The provider of translation services and software announced a three-year contract with an unidentified biotechnology company and said fourth-quarter revenue will “be at the high-end or above” its earlier projection of $98 million to $102 million.

New Gold Inc. (NGD US) jumped 12 percent, the most since May 29, to $3.63. The precious metal producer said a Mexican court temporarily overturned an environmental enforcement agency’s order to suspend mining at the company’s Cerro San Pedro site.

Oshkosh Corp. (OSK US) tumbled 11 percent, the most since Aug. 6, to $36.32. BAE Systems Plc (BA/ LN) and Navistar International Corp.’s (NAV US) protests of the Army’s armored- vehicle production contract with Oshkosh, valued at as much as $3 billion, were upheld by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM US) added 3.7 percent, the most since July 23, to $50.26. The largest U.S. tobacco company was added to Goldman Sachs’ “conviction buy-list” with a 12-month price target of $62. Goldman said investors are underestimating the growth prospects of the tobacco company.

Sun Microsystems Inc. (JAVA US) jumped 11 percent, the most since April 20, to $9.28. Oracle Corp. (ORCL US) pledged to continue investing in Sun’s competing database software after its planned $7.4 billion purchase of the computer maker was threatened by European Union antitrust regulators. Oracle rose 2.3 percent to $23.31.

Teradyne Inc. (TER US) gained 7.2 percent, the most since Sept. 15, to $10.31. The maker of automatic test equipment for electronics manufacturers was raised to “overweight” from “neutral” at Piper Jaffray.

Titan International Inc. (TWI US) fell 11 percent, the most since May 13, to $8.25. The supplier of wheels and tires for farm equipment and military and all-terrain vehicles said in a regulatory filing that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing some of its financial filings from the past two years.

Visa Inc. (V US) rose 4.2 percent to $84.77, the highest price since June 2008. The world’s biggest electronic payments network was among stocks that will join the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index after the close of trading on Dec. 18. The stock was raised to “outperform” from “neutral” at Robert W. Baird & Co.

Stocks that will be dropped from the S&P 500 fell. MBIA Inc. (MBI US), the largest bond insurer, lost 7.6 percent to $3.39 for the steepest retreat in the benchmark. Ciena Corp. (CIEN US), a maker of networking gear, erased 4.4 percent to $10.99. Convergys Corp. (CVG US), an operator of customer- service call centers, fell 3.6 percent to $10.64. Dynegy Inc. (DYN US), a power producer, slipped 4.6 percent to $1.88.

XTO Energy Inc. (XTO US) surged 15 percent to $47.86 for the biggest rally in the S&P 500. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM US) agreed to buy XTO Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $31 billion. Exxon agreed to issue 0.7098 common shares for each common share of XTO, or about $51.69 a share. Exxon fell the most in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, sliding 4.3 percent to $69.69.

Other energy stocks also advanced. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG US) climbed 7 percent to $41.04. Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK US) added 5.8 percent to $24.37. Range Resources Corp. (RRC US) jumped 9 percent to $47.29. EOG Resources Inc. (EOG US) increased 5 percent to $90.39. Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN US) added 7.3 percent to $44.46. Devon Energy Corp. (DVN US) rose 4.6 percent to $66.80. Exco Resources Inc. (XCO US) gained 7.1 percent to $20.51.

Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG US) rallied 13 percent to $2.17. Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR US) increased 4.2 percent to $13.88. Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (PXD US) added 5.6 percent to $43.03. Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK US) jumped 8.4 percent to $14.28. Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX US) climbed 7.9 percent to $44.42…read more at the Bloomberg