In US pre-market trade, a notable mover was Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT), whose shares lost over 5% to US$51.20 after the computer chip making tools firm disappointed with its earnings report.
It forecasted revenue and sales for its current quarter in its semiconductor business to be below Wall Street expectations.
The company said it expects third-quarter revenue to be in the range of US$4.33bn, while analysts on average were reportedly expecting US$4.53bn.
Traders brushed aside its second quarter, as the tech giant reported total revenue rose an impressive 28.8% to US$4.57bn, beating analyst estimates of US$4.45bn.
Elsewhere, Cerner Corp (NASDAQ:CERN) added over 7% in before the bell trade to US$65.01 after a new deal US government deal got the go-ahead
The White House okayed a US$10bn deal with the firm yesterday to overhaul the electronic health records of millions of military veterans.
The contract with Cerner, the company which designed the Pentagon’s electronic records system, is one of the largest in VA’s (Veteran Affairs system) history.
Meanwhile, Mattel Inc (NYSE:MAT) saw shares add 3.73% to US$15.85. It came as a report in the Wall Street journal suggested that Isaac Larian, the business mogul behind the firm Bratz dolls, had made a play to run Mattel. But his proposal was reportedly rejected.
Elsewhere, shares in Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) sank lower as the group said the chief executive Denise Morrison was retiring with immediate effect.
Shares shed 2.35% to US$38.30 in pre-market.
Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a Director, has chosen to retire effective today. Keith R. McLoughlin has been named interim CEO.https://t.co/XJrGHdZ2oT pic.twitter.com/pNIxsEAwd0
— Campbell Soup Co (@CampbellSoupCo) 18 May 2018
In other news, Deere And Co ( NYSE: DE) shares nudged 0.47% higher at US$147.50 in pre-market after the company increased an increased second profit compared to the same period last year.
Earnings for the three months totalled US$1.21bn or US$3.67 per share, compared with US$0.81bn, or US$2.50 per share, in last year's second quarter.
Adjusted earnings for the quarter were US$3.14 per share. Analysts had expected the company to earn US$3.30 per share.