U.S. stocks are set to start the day on a positive note, following suit with modest midday gains in Europe as traders look ahead to remarks from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. As we wrap up the month of August and head into an extended holiday weekend, here are a few stocks to watch during today's session:

• According to reports, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) will team up with Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) to provide mapping services on the new version of its Kindle Fire. (Reuters)
  
  
• The shares of Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLK) have surged more than 14% in pre-market trading following last night's well-received earnings report. (Investor's Business Daily)
  
  
• Elsewhere in earnings news, OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OVTI) has jumped 10% in electronic trading, thanks to stronger-than-forecast first-quarter revenue and blowout sales guidance for the current quarter. (Barron's)
  
  
• Online gaming issue Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ:ZNGA) continues to bleed executives. Fresh on the heels of Chief Creative Officer Mike Verdu's exit, sources indicate that VPs Bill Mooney and Brian Birtwistle are also hitting the bricks. (Bloomberg)
  
  
• Sobering fact: In primetime viewing hours, most Americans prefer TLC reality star Honey Boo Boo to Mitt Romney, Marco Rubio, and Dirty Harry combined. (The Hollywood Reporter)