Stocks on the move Thursday

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The following shares were among the most actively traded Thursday:

Bayer AG (up $1.17 to $58.34, Charts) posted a 12.5 percent rise in fourth-quarter operating profit on Thursday, driven by a robust health care unit and the acquisition of rival Schering.

Bear Stearns (up $3.46 to $148.75, Charts) said on Thursday quarterly earnings rose 8 percent, but problems in the risky subprime loan sector hurt mortgage-related revenue.

Continental Airlines (up $0.95 to $37.57, Charts) was upgraded to "neutral" from "underweight" by analysts at J.P. Morgan.

Chiquita (up $0.34 to $13.09, Charts) agreed to pay $25 million late Wednesday after it pleaded guilty to federal charges that it engaged in transactions with a terrorist organization, in this case a right-wing paramilitary group in two areas of Colombia where it grows bananas.

Cadbury Schweppes (up $1.75 to $48.73, Charts) announced plans Thursday to split its candy and American soft drink business into two separate companies, a move that could bring bids from rivals or private equity groups.

Scolr Pharma (down $1.53 to $1.77, Charts) said Wyeth Consumer Healthcare will terminate its license to use Scolr's technology in products containing the painkiller ibuprofen.

Hanson (up $1.78 to $77.58, Charts) benefited from consensus among traders that its stock was hit too hard Wednesday on concerns about the U.S. housing market, according to Reuters.

Hot Topic (down $0.54 to $10.35, Charts) posted a 16 percent decline in fourth quarter net income, as tepid sales and a charge related to the closure of underperforming stores hurt results.

Imperial Tobacco (up $5.97 to $85.67, Charts) made a $15 billion bid for Franco-Spanish rival Altadis.

Assurances from Lehman Brothers (up $1.61 to $73.33, Charts) about its own subprime problems when it reported results Wednesday helped to lift markets that have become focused on rising defaults and delinquencies in those loans.

Unilever (up $1.17 to $27.67, Charts) was upgraded to "neutral" from "underperform" by analysts at Credit Suisse.

-- from staff and wire reports

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