Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:
Morgan Stanley — The investment bank reported adjusted quarterly profit of 42 cents per share, missing estimates by 20 cents, with revenue also well below forecasts. The company said volatile world markets cut back on trading activity, among other factors.
PMC-Sierra — The chipmaker is the target of an $11.50 per share cash and stock takeover bid from Microsemi Corp. PMC-Sierra already has a deal to be acquired by Skyworks Solutions for $10.50 per share.
Hasbro — The toymaker reported adjusted adjusted profit of $1.58 per share, six cents above estimates, with revenue essentially in line. Hasbro was helped by increased sales of toys based on the "Star Wars" and "Jurassic World" movie franchises.
General Electric — GE has begun the exchange offer that will complete the separation of Synchrony Financial from GE. The move is expected to reduce the outstanding float of GE common stock by six to seven percent.
Weight Watchers — Oprah Winfrey has taken a 10 percent stake in the weight loss company, and will also join the board of directors.
Halliburton — The oilfield services company beat estimates by four cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 31 cents per share, though revenue came in below forecasts. The company, like its rivals, is dealing with slumping demand for its equipment amid lower oil prices.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals — Valeant reported adjusted quarterly profit of $2.74 per share, four cents above estimates, with revenue in line. The drug maker also raised its full-year forecast, as it benefits from both organic growth and additional revenue from various recent acquisitions.
McDonald's — Credit Suisse added the stock to its "US Focus List" and said it considered it one of its "top investment ideas."
United Continental — The airline has not given any updates on the medical condition of CEO Oscar Munoz. The recently-appointed Munoz was admitted to the hospital Thursday, but the airline gave no other information than that. Reuters has reported that Munoz suffered a heart attack.
Yahoo — Yahoo chief development officer Jacqueline Reses is leaving to join mobile payments company Square, according to a Bloomberg report.
Deutsche Bank — The bank announced a restructuring which will split its investment bank in two, and also removed some of its top executives.
Shire — Shire failed to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its eye drug Lifitegrast, with the agency recommending the drug maker conduct more clinical studies. The drug is designed to treat dry eye disease.
AT&T, Verizon Communications — These and other telecom companies are being probed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for alleged anticompetitive practices. The investigation centers on pricing plans for business data services.
Apple — Apple was ordered to pay more than $234 million to the University of Wisconsin's patent licensing arm for infringing its patent on microchip technology used in some of Apple's iPhones and iPads.
Wal-Mart — A corruption probe into Wal-Mart's Mexico operations has found very little, according to a Wall Street Journal report, and the case will be much smaller than first expected.
Diebold — Diebold is in talks to buy rival automated teller machine maker Wincor Nixdorf for $1.7 billion, according to Dow Jones. Wincor is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
International Business Machines — IBM is in advanced to talks to buy the digital assets of the Weather Channel, according to Re/code. (Disclosure: CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Re/code's parent Revere Digital, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement.)
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