With US stocks seen starting lower, a number of companies are piquing investor interest before the bell, including Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB).
Its shares souped up 6.22% before the New York bell to US$41 each on the back of bid rumors.
The company is being linked with fellow foodstuff giant Heinz
Quoting "a source close to the situation", the New York Post reported that Kraft Heinz "is very much interested in buying Campbell and believes the soup maker's management will start a sales process soon".
Meanwhile, from food to films, and Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares are down 4.59% to US$406.50 as it emerged that Jonathan Friedland, chief comms oficer, had been sacked for using a racial slur at work.
Meanwhile, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) shares shed 0.15% to US$13.03 before the New York bell as reports swirled that the engineering giant may sell off its industrial engine unit to private equity firm Advent International.
The business would be sold for at least US$3bn, it was reported in the Wall Street Journal.
It is a continuing attempt to inject life into the ailing manufacturing titan.
Lastly, iconic motorcycle brand Harley Davidson Inc (NYSE:HOG) saw it shares take the foot off the gas to slide 2.74% lower at US$43 as it revealed it would not raise retail or wholesale prices to its dealers to cover the costs of the retaliatory tariffs by the European Union on US products.
That means of course that in the short term, the company will bear the significant impact resulting from these tariffs.