Verona Pharma, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, AES And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Wednesday

U.S. stocks were higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining around 0.1% on Wednesday.

Shares of Verona Pharma plc VRNA rose sharply during Wednesday's session after Merck announced it will acquire the company in a $10 billion deal.

Merck & Co. agreed on Wednesday to acquire Verona Pharma for $107 per American Depository Share (ADS) for a total transaction value of approximately $10 billion. Each ADS represents eight ordinary shares of Verona Pharma.

Verona Pharma shares jumped 20.6% to $104.81 on Wednesday.

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Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today’s session.

Scage Future SCAG jumped 55.4% to $6.53.
ProKidney Corp. PROK gained 47.1% to $5.49, continuing its climb of over 500% during regular trading on Tuesday.
Akso Health Group AHG rose 47% to $1.9200.
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. RYTM gained 25.8% to $82.00 after the company announced topline results from its Phase 2 trial for Bivamelagon.
Plug Power Inc. PLUG gained 20.4% to $1.7101. Plug Power announced Wednesday it has renewed and expanded a multi-year hydrogen supply agreement with a longtime U.S.-based industrial gas partner, extending their collaboration through 2030.
The AES Corporation AES rose 16.8% to $12.94 after Bloomberg reported the company is exploring options amid takeover interest.
Bloom Energy Corporation BE gained 15.2% to $27.98 after JP Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $18 to $33.
Precigen, Inc. PGEN rose 15.2% to $1.96.
First Majestic Silver Corp. AG jumped 8.1% to $8.64. First Majestic produced 7.9 million AgEq ounces in the second quarter and raised its full-year outlook to 32.6 million on 76% surge in silver and strong gold output.
Grifols, S.A. GRFS gained 7.7% to $9.69.
Metsera, Inc. MTSR rose 7.7% to $32.50.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated LGND gained 7.6% to $123.94.
GeneDx Holdings Corp. WGS rose 7.2% to $91.38. Piper Sandler analyst David Westenberg initiated coverage on GeneDx Holdings with an Overweight rating and announced a price target of $110.