Novartis (CH:NOVN): Shares in the Swiss pharmaceutical company climbed after it returned to sales growth in the second quarter, driven by some of its top-selling drugs.

Swatch (CH:UHR): The watchmaker's shares fell despite better first-half sales, as profit dropped compared to the same period last year.

General Motors $(GM)$, Hasbro $(HAS)$: Both companies are scheduled to report second-quarter earnings before the opening bell. Capital One Financial $(COF)$ will report after the market close.

Applied Materials $(AMAT)$, Micron Technology $(MU)$, Marvell Technology $(MRVL)$, Intel $(INTC)$, Advanced Micro Devices $(AMD)$: Chip stocks rose in premarket trading, extending their recovery after last week's broader selloff.

Var Energi (NO:VAR), BlueNord (NO:BNOR): Norwegian oil-and-gas company Var Energi agreed to buy Oslo-listed peer BlueNord. Var CEO Nick Walker said the $1.3 billion deal would create Europe's largest independent oil-and-gas producer. Both stocks gained.