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Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

Bill Ackman may finally be vindicated in his high profile Herbalife bet. Shares of the stock were halted today prior to an announcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it will be investigating the company. Ackman made a high profile bet against Herbalife saying it was a Ponzi scheme. Since then, a number of other managers and funds have come to its defense.

"Herbalife welcomes the inquiry given the tremendous amount of misinformation in the marketplace," the Cayman Islands-based company said today in a statement. "We are confident that Herbalife is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations."

Shares of the company closed above $60 today, which is surprising given the announcement and may indicate the view of the broader market on the company. The FTC, along with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, had been asked by Senator Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, to look into Herbalife’s business practices. According to the New York Times, Pershing Square hired a former Markey aide as part of his campaign against the company.

Shares of Pfizer were also halted today pending news that the company would be appealing a patent court decision on Celebrex. Celebrex is a brand-name painkiller that is widely prescribed. Pfizer held the origina......................

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