Early Gainers (PEIX, SPLS, PBR, ACI, GRPN)

Pacific Ethanol Inc(NASDAQ:PEIX) shares climbed 14.64% to $0.481 in the early hour. The 52 week trading range for the company is $0.25 - $1.85. The shares of the company increased 29% in the last one year. The company is a marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States.

Will PEIX Continue To Move Higher? Find Out Here

Staples, Inc.(NASDAQ:SPLS) shares gained 3.87% to $12.42 in the morning hour. Reuters reported that according to Fortune, several private equity firms including Bain Capital are considering a buyout offer for Staples Inc. Bain Capital did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. Staples declined to comment. The discussions have been preliminary thus far and the earliest an actual offer could come would be late this year, the sources told Fortune.

Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR)(NYSE:PBR) shares jumped 3.78% to $24.44 after the company announced that on September 6, 2012, it commenced the production of the Chinook field in the American Gulf of Mexico connected to the FPSO (floating platform, floating production, storage capacity and flow) BW Pioneer. The production well Chinook 4 was drilled and completed in reservoirs geologically aged Lower Tertiary promising exploratory maritime frontier of the Gulf of Mexico at the depth of approximately 8,000 meters.

Arch Coal Inc (NYSE:ACI) shares climbed 6.77% to $7.89. The company earned a spot in the top 250 of the 2012 InformationWeek 500. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Arch Coal has been ranked one of the nation's most innovative users of business technology by InformationWeek.

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Zacks last week upgrade their recommendation to Neutral from Underperform on Arch Coal. The company reported mixed financial results in the second quarter of 2012. The analysts believe believe the company's coal prospects look encouraging in the forthcoming quarters with a gradual increase in demand for coal from the Asian, European and Middle Eastern markets.

Groupon Inc(NASDAQ:GRPN) shares increased 9.45% to $5.21 after Chief Financial Officer Jason Child this week told an investor conference that the company is taking steps that will help drive its growth in Europe.