Before the bell: AAPL, AMZN, SWY, MO, CBI ...

Futures lower after deals, ahead of data

It's been all over the news by now, a teen unlocked an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone from the AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) network. He also put an unlocked iPhone up for sale on eBay Inc.'s (NASDAQ: EBAY) auction site. By Friday, the bids reached over $12,000.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein. Stock is up 1.85% in premarket trading (7:56 a.m.).

Merrill Lynch downgraded Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) to Sell from Neutral, due to a slowing economy and the impending entry of the new Tesco format. Suggestions that Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) may also try to enter the California market also affected the decision to downgrade. SWY shares are down 2% in premarket trading (7:44 a.m.).

Shares of Altria Inc. (NYSE: MO) are up 1.17% in premarket trading (8:05 a.m.) after a Citigroup analyst said she is nearly certain the company will split its U.S. and international businesses into separate companies. According to the New York Times, the company will meet Wednesday to consider spinning off the overseas division of its cigarette business.

In more deal news, ABB Ltd. (NYSE: ABB) will sell its oil and gas production plant to the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (NYSE: CBI) for $950 million. CBI has been a favorite stock of Hilary Kramer for this turbulent market.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) said they have finalized an agreement for a worldwide collaboration to research, develop and commercialize DGAT-1 inhibitors.

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), which has been buying retail chains and entering joint ventures all over the world, may now be looking at acquisitions in the U.S. as well.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) will introduce new features today for its web-based e-mail program.