McDonald's upgraded to buy, Aetna/Humana head to court, Apple's self-driving car plans

Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Aetna (AET) and Humana (HUM) shares are in focus this morning. The two health insurance giants’ legal battle with the Justice Department over their planned $37 billion merger begins to unfold in court today. The key issue in the antitrust trial is whether Medicare Advantage customers will face higher prices and lower benefits if Aetna and Humana are allowed to merge.

ExxonMobil’s (XOM) chairman and chief executive Rex Tillerson is among the candidates being considered for Secretary of State as President-elect Donald Trump looks to fill the top diplomatic job. Tillerson who joined Exxon in 1975, is set to retire next year.

McDonald’s (MCD) shares were higher this morning after Nomura turned bullish on the fast-food chain, upgrading the stock to “buy” from “neutral” and raised its price target to $139 from $126 a share. The investment firm is optimistic that same-store sales will improve and is encouraged by potential menu updates in 2017, such as the new burgers and and the roll out of its smartphone ordering system.

FairPoint Communications (FRP) soared in early trading. Consolidated Communications (CNSL) is buying the broadband service provider in an all-stock deal valued at $1.5 billion, which also includes debt.

Apple (AAPL) stock is also on investors’ watch list. We’re learning a bit more about Apple’s interest in developing technology for self-driving cars. In a letter to safety regulators, Apple reveals it is “investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation”in areas including transportation. An Apple spokesman said the company wants to work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to define best practices for the autonomous driving industry.