Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Rigetti Computing — The quantum computing stock soared 11%, adding to the sector’s robust end-of-year rally . Shares of Rigetti are now up 1,674% on the year. KULR Technology Group — Shares pulled back 2%, reversing the gains seen in the previous session. On Thursday, the stock advanced more than 40% after the space technology company said it bought 217.18 bitcoin worth about $21 million. This was the company’s first purchase since it announced a new bitcoin treasury initiative on Dec. 4, when bitcoin passed the $100,000 level for the first time. Honda — The automaker added 1%, extending gains after announcing earlier this week that it officially began merger talks with fellow Japanese carmaker Nissan. That lifted Honda’s week-to-date gain to 20.7%, putting the stock on track to notch its best week since 1988. Amedisys , UnitedHealth — Shares of Amedisys rose 5%, while UnitedHealth stock was fractionally lower after the companies entered into a new waiver agreement, a filing revealed. This new agreement extends the deadline to close their $3.3 billion merger. MicroStrategy — The cryptocurrency-linked stock slipped 3%. It had previously traded higher early Friday morning as the price of bitcoin rose above $96,000. Red Cat Holdings — The drone stock plunged 9%. It was previously trading higher on Friday morning, adding on to its massive year-to-date rally of 1,275%. Shares of Red Cat rose in December after drone sightings in the Northeast reignited Wall Street interest in the sector. South Korea stocks — U.S.-listed shares of South Korean stocks retreated on Friday after lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo , ousting the nation’s second head of state since a short-lived martial decree earlier this month. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) slid 1%. U.S.-listed shares of Korea Electric Power and Coupang shed 2%, while Posco Holdings and KT Corporation marginally declined. — CNBC’s Sean Conlon and Alex Harring contributed reporting.
