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Hershey Co, Vipshop Holdings, Amplify Snack Brands, Humana and more - PRE-MARKET

Last updated: 07:50 18 Dec 2017 EST, First published: 02:50 18 Dec 2017 EST

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Christmas is coming and Proactive takes a look at what stocks are in focus in pre-market

US stocks closed on Friday at new highs and are expected to continue north today.

Companies, which are likely to be in play include huge chocolate maker Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) as it revealed it was to buy SkinnyPop popcorn maker Amplify Snack Brands (NYSE:BETR) in a deal valued at US$1.6 billion, including debt, to bolster its healthy snack unit.

Hershey Co shares closed out Friday  up 0.69% at US$114.14, while Amplify shares shed 2.37% to US$7 each.

Meanwhile, Humana Inc ( NYSE:HUM) is likely to be in focus. Shares closed on Friday up 1.21% to US$253.64 as it emerged that the company and private equity firms are in advanced talks to acquire Kindred Healthcare Inc (NYSE;KND).

Last but definitely not least, shares in Kindred surged over 12% to US$9.65 each in pre-market deals.

Meanwhile,  the Chinese e-commerce firm Vipshop Holdings Ltd (NYSE:VIPS) surged over 44% to US$12.19 as it announced a whopping US$863 million investment by JD.com and Tencent. 

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