On Dec 18, Alcatel-Lucent SA (NYSE:ALU) reported to be in merger talks with Nokia Networks.The companies resumed merger talks this fall, according to Germany’s Manager Magazin quoting unidentified people with knowledge of the matter. Alcatel Lucent SA (ADR) (NYSE:ALU) belongs to Technology sector. Its net profit margin is -1.80% and weekly performance is -2.45%. On last trading day company shares ended up $3.59. Alcatel Lucent SA (ADR) (NYSE:ALU) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 12.05%.

On Dec 17, Canada’s Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (NYSE:PWE) slashed its dividend to 3 Canadian cents per share from 14 Canadian cents, and cut its 2015 capital budget by a quarter due to a big slide in oil prices. Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (NYSE:PWE) shares advanced 0.48% in last trading session and ended the day at $2.10. PWE Gross Margin is 63.50% and its return on assets is -5.70%. Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (NYSE:PWE) quarterly performance is -68.89%.

SMTC Corp. (NASDAQ:SMTX) said its board of directors has adopted a tax benefits preservation rights plan designed to protect the company’s about $45.1 million in U.S. federal net operating loss carry-forwards or NOLs, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. SMTC Corporation (NASDAQ:SMTX) belongs to Technology sector. Its net profit margin is -3.90% and weekly performance is 1.71%. On last trading day company shares ended up $1.78. SMTC Corporation (NASDAQ:SMTX) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 2.37%.

Zacks downgraded shares of STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:STAA) from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research note released on Friday morning. They currently have $8.80 target price on the stock. STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:STAA) ended the last trading day at $8.93. Company weekly volatility is calculated as 2.92% and price to cash ratio as 18.76. STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:STAA) showed a weekly performance of -4.18%.

Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (NASDAQ:ITRN) announced that On December 15, 2014, Ituran Location and Control LTD held an Annual General Meeting which approved the renew appointment of the firm of Fahn Kanne & co. as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2015 and until the Company’s next annual general meeting and authorize the Audit Committee of the Company to determine their remuneration. Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (NASDAQ:ITRN) shares advanced 0.28% in last trading session and ended the day at $22.06. ITRN Gross Margin is 53.70% and its return on assets is 16.80%. Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (NASDAQ:ITRN) quarterly performance is 5.35%.