11:58 AM EDT, 10/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Monday as Wall Street awaits the next batch of corporate earnings releases.

In company news, acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su has flown to Seattle to meet with Boeing ( BA ) and the union representing 33,000 striking workers in hopes of rekindling talks between the two parties, Reuters reported Monday, citing a source familiar with the matter. Boeing ( BA ) shares were down 1% near noon.

Southwest Airlines ( LUV ) shareholder Elliott Investment Management said Monday it has requested a special meeting of shareholders to allow them to elect a new slate of director nominees. Elliott nominated eight directors to the Southwest ( LUV ) board and is looking to replace the same number of board members, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Shares of Southwest ( LUV ) were down 1.8%.

B. Riley Financial ( RILY ) said Monday it has signed an agreement with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management to create a holding company called Great American Holdings. Under the terms of the deal, B. Riley will receive about $203 million in cash, class B preferred units of the holding company with an initial aggregate liquidation preference of about $183 million, and class A common shares representing roughly 47% of the total outstanding common units. B. Riley shares were up more than 23%.

TPG (TPG) and Blackstone (BX) have partnered on a joint bid for eyecare firm Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ) , the Financial Times reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal, if successful, could be one of the largest private equity buyouts of the year, according to the report. Offers are expected to value Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ) between $13 billion and $14 billion, or up to $25 per share, the FT reported, citing the people. Shares of TPG and Blackstone were up 0.1% and 1.4%, respectively, while those of Bausch + Lomb ( BLCO ) were up 8.1%.

Stellantis ( STLA ) said Monday it has widened its employee share purchase program, with the second round launched in 18 countries. The automaker said nearly all of its more than 230,000 workers can now subscribe to the Shares to Win program between Nov. 5 and Nov. 14 for up to a total of 14 million shares. Stellantis ( STLA ) shares were up 1.1%.

Price: 30.09, Change: -0.54, Percent Change: -1.75