Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) agreed to sell its stake in its Jamalco bauxite mining and alumina refining joint venture to global bulk commodities company Noble Group Ltd. for $140 million. As a result of the deal, set to close by year’s end, Alcoa expects to post a fourth-quarter write-down of $80 million to $100 million. Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) belongs to Basic Materials sector. Its net profit margin is -10.20% and weekly performance is -9.77%. On last trading day company shares ended up $14.50. Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is -10.49%.

On Oct. 7, PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) announced the release of its investor relations app for iPhone, iPad and Android mobile devices, now available for free at Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPad and at Google Play for Android mobile devices. PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) shares fell -3.27% in last trading session and ended the day at $32.49. PPL Gross Margin is 96.70% and its return on assets is 1.80%. PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) quarterly performance is -1.46%.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) said Wednesday it will scale down investment in building supercenters and invest on smaller-format stores and enhance its e-commerce capabilities, in a move to sync with the shifting dynamics in consumer shopping. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) belongs to Services sector. Its net profit margin is 3.30% and weekly performance is -3.89%. On last trading day company shares ended up $75.20. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is -1.00%.

Banro Corporation (NYSEMKT:BAA) announce that, pursuant to the memorandum of understanding announced by Banro on August 18, 2014, it is progressing towards finalizing the definitive agreements with Gold Holding Ltd. (“Gold Holding”) for the two gold sale transactions to raise US$121 million in financing for Banro, the first such transaction for US$41 million relating to the Twangiza mine and the second transaction for US$80 million relating to the Namoya mine. Banro Corporation (NYSEMKT:BAA) ended the last trading day at $0.16. Company weekly volatility is calculated as 9.72% and price to cash ratio as 5.93. Banro Corporation (NYSEMKT:BAA) showed a weekly performance of 10.71%.

EP Energy Corp (NYSE:EPE) CFO Dane E. Whitehead purchased 15,000 shares of the company’s stock on the open market in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 9th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $15.08 per share, for a total transaction of $226,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 47,947 shares in the company, valued at approximately $723,041. EP Energy Corporation (NYSE:EPE) shares increased 5.54% in last trading session and ended the day at $13.90. EPE Gross Margin is 73.20% and its return on assets is 1.80%. EP Energy Corporation (NYSE:EPE) quarterly performance is -33.65%.