Here is another collection of stock briefings that could affect stock prices in trading later today. The following companies should see some movement: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), BP (NYSE:BP) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC).

Here is a more detailed look at the news that will affect each company when trading continues.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Disney and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could be close to signing an agreement to offer tv show rentals at a cheap price. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in discussions with Disney and several of the big TV networks to offer 99-cent rentals of TV episodes through iTunes, according to people familiar with the situation.

This is part of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) plan to make its devices the center of the media universe, and in this case that involves pushing Internet video onto home TV sets.

BP (NYSE:BP)

BP just can’t catch a break. Though the British oil giant stopped the bleeding in its Gulf well weeks ago, the company’s stock continues to fall. In fact, shares have fallen 18.4% in the last 12 trading days.

Analysts say they’re now concerned about what comes next for the company, with massive legal liabilities still a possibility.

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC)

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) has started preliminary testing of a cell phone payment option at select merchants in the New York area.

The bank says the goal now is simply to gain a better understanding of how customers perceive these types of payment options, and go from there.

The testing could be expanded to four cities by the middle of next year.

Expect more movement when trading continues for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), BP (NYSE:BP) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC).

Several oil-related news stories will affect stock prices as trading continues today. The following companies should see some movement: Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), BP (NYSE:BP) and General Motors (NYSE:GM).

Here is a more detailed look at the news that will affect each company as the day’s trading continues.

Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO)

Putting an end to 35 years’ service, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), Jerry Howard has retired from the company. “A review of Jerry Howard’s distinguished career with Marathon quickly reveals the depth and breadth of knowledge, experience and value he has brought to our company over the past three and a half decades. Jerry’s approach to managing his responsibilities has always been guided by a deep sense of respect, personal and professional integrity, and faith,” said Clarence P. Cazalot, the President and CEO.

As per the official statement from the company, the retirement shall be in effect from the June 1 2010.

BP (NYSE:BP)

BP (NYSE:BP) has begun removing the drilling pipe from the well that caused the Deepwater Horizon spill. After completing 48 hours of pressure testing on the well, BP (NYSE:BP) has begun removing the drilling pipe that was abandoned inside the well. This is acritical step in replacing the well’s blowout preventer, one of the last steps in the process of sealing off the well for good. The drilling pipe and the blowout preventer are critical pieces of evidence in determining the cause of the blowout and the spill.

General Motors (NYSE:GM)

Analysts have said that the continuous management changes in General Motors (NYSE:GM) may affect the investors’ attitude towards the company. Preference is given to stability and keeping potential investors, but the continuous changes that is currently taking place at the top level management at GM may affect investors’ decision, analysts and observers have noted.

The latest announcement from General Motors (NYSE:GM), a new marketing chief for the Chevrolet brand, came last week, just followed by the company’s request to the government asking for permission to sell its shares in a new IPO.

Expect more movement as the day’s trading progresses for Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), BP (NYSE:BP) and General Motors (NYSE:GM).

- BP outlines the steps it needs to seal off it’s troublesome Gulf well forever

New York, USA – (BGN) – The official overseeing the spill response is retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, and BP (NYSE:BP) senior vice president of exploration and production Kent Wells.

As BP goes into the final phases of killing its Macondo oil well, it will have to take the following steps, which must all meet with Admiral Allen’s approval before proceeding.

More Work For BP (NYSE:BP)

First, pressure testing must be conducted on the well to confirm whether the well is sealed well enough that oil will not flow if seabed equipment at the top is removed. This test is expected to take 48 hours to complete.

Second, the well’s blowout preventer (BOP) will have to be replaced. This process will involve retrieving a 3,500-foot drillpipe that scientists think is lodged in the BOP. This will require a ship on the ocean’s surface to lift the pipe out, but its removal will streamline the replacing of the BOP. The failed BOP is key evidence in several investigations into the cause of the April 20 blowout that killed 11 people.

Third, BP (NYSE:BP) will have to drill relief wells about 3.5 feet from the side of the Macondo well. This will have to be done before the BOP is replaced, to ensure the Macondo well stays stable during the operation.

Last, mud and cement will be pumped through the relief well into the Macondo well to fill the Macondo well and seal it permanently. After all this is finished, BP (NYSE:BP) will abandon the well. BP (NYSE:BP) advises that final plugging has been pushed back as far as September.

Galveston, TX, United States (AHN) – Tar balls from the BP (NYSE:BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reached the Texas coast over the weekend. The sighting means that the spill has reached all five U.S. Gulf states.

Oil From BP (NYSE:BP) Spill Reaches Texas Coast

According to investigators, five gallons of tar balls were discovered near Galveston. Tests on the substances revealed it came from the Deepwater Horizon leak.

It remains unknown if the tar balls drifted in the currents or if they were deposited by ships that had been working in the cleanup zone.

The joint BP-U.S. government response team issued a statement saying, "The testing found that the oil was lightly weathered, raising doubts that the oil traversed the Gulf from the spill source.”

So not only is the state dealing with the possibility of encroaching plumes of oil severely affecting the coastline but oil from the spill is purposely invading Texas–slated for permanent disposal in underground salt domes and injection wells.

The state has numerous environmental services companies, refineries and oil salvagers, making it one of the states tasked with recycling or permanently disposing of the oily waste collected during the ongoing clean up efforts.

Since April 22, oil has been leaking from a blown-out sea floor well, deluging the Gulf with a torrent of oil that has cost the BP plc (NYSE:BP) over $3 billion in cleanup costs.