Early movers: DOW, XRX, PFE, VLKAY, GE & more

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) — Dow is cutting about 2,500 jobs, or four percent of its global workforce, as part of its upcoming move to take full ownership of the Dow Corning joint venture. All that comes ahead of its planned merger with DuPont (NYSE: DD).

Xerox (NYSE: XRX) — The company appointed Carl Icahn lieutenant Jonathan Christodoro to its board prior to Xerox's planned split into two separate companies, according to The Wall Street Journal. Icahn is the largest Xerox shareholder with a 9.8 percent stake.

Cigna (NYSE: CI) — Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on the insurance company with a "buy" rating, saying the stock is undervalued whether or not the pending acquisition of Cigna by Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) goes through or not.

Volkswagen (XETRA: VOW3-DE) — The automaker has reached a $15 billion settlement with U.S. regulators over its diesel emissions scandal. Some $10.1 billion will go to diesel vehicle owners through buybacks, while the rest will go to funds dedicated to offset the negative effect of excess diesel emissions.

LendingClub (NYSE: LC) — The online lender named acting Chief Executive Officer Scott Sanborn as permanent CEO. The company also announced it would cut 179 jobs and that it expected to see revenue and earnings growth resume in the first half of next year.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) — The drugmaker plans to invest $350 million in a new biotech center in China, which would be its first in Asia. The facility is expected to be completed by 2018.

Gannett (NYSE: GCI) — The newspaper publisher is buying digital marketing services company ReachLocal (NASDAQ: RLOC) for $156 million in cash. The offer is worth $4.60 per share, compared to ReachLocal's Monday closing price of $1.66.

SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) — SolarCity formed a special committee consisting of two directors, and hired outside advisers to evaluate the takeover bid by automaker Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). Both companies are controlled by Elon Musk , and the panel was constructed to avoid involvement by anyone with potential conflicts of interest and significant involvement in both companies.

General Electric (NYSE: GE) — GE struck three deals to sell most of its U.S. restaurant financing assets, as it continues to refocus on its industrial operations.

Teva Pharmaceutical (Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: TEVA-IL) — The drugmaker sold a portfolio of U.S. generic products to Australia's Mayne Pharma Group for $652 million. The deal is part of Teva's asset divestiture to win regulatory approval for its planned $40 billion buy of Allergan' (NYSE: AGN)s generic drugs portfolio.

Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB) — Viacom's board rejected an offer to meet face-to-face with controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone , according to a Reuters report. Viacom has been embroiled in controversy after Redstone's National Amusements removed Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and others from its board.

Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) — The sporting goods retailer was added to the "conviction buy" list at Goldman Sachs, which cites the benefit from the closing of rival Sports Authority stores.

Mobileye (NYSE: MBLY) — The developer of autonomous driving technology was downgraded to "neutral" from "buy" at Goldman Sachs, which notes the more than 60 percent increase in the share price since February.

Questions? Comments? Email us at marketinsider@cnbc.com

More From CNBC

• Top News and Analysis
  

• Latest News Video
  

• Personal Finance