Chesapeake Energy Corp surged 8% in premarket trade Friday, after the company said it is suspending its quarterly preferred stock dividends in an effort to save cash. [MarketWatch]

U.S. stocks are rising Friday as energy prices continue to climb and give a boost to energy companies. [ABC]

Last year shattered 2014’s record to become the hottest year since reliable record-keeping began, two U.S. government science agencies have announced in yet another sign that the planet is heating up. [The Washington Post]