Regarding Black Out period, here is my understanding but please do your own diligence.

This is a very common and routine practice for publicly traded companies.  If a company reports on earnings say 4 times per year (i.e. quarterly), then there is normally a black out period for some period of time leading into earnings before they are reported to sometime soon thereafter earnings actually are reported.  A black out (as far as I know) only applies to officers and employees within the company who would be considered insiders.

This is different than a trading halt which may be issued whenever material information is about to become known that will likely affect the stock price.  A trading halt applies to all shareholders.  A good example of a trading halt was when one was issued for RVX upon FDA approval of the Phase 3 study.  Once the information was released to all shareholders, the halt was immediately lifted.  

Thus when one hears of a black out period, I personally wouldn't get too overly worried or excited about it because they are normal and usually prescribed with pre established dates etc.  However, a halt is very different and usually comes along with it some very material information either good or bad to the stock price.  

Hope this explanation helps and please feel free to add, modify, or clarify anything that I either omitted or may have wrong.

10BagR