The markets traded lower during the midday with the Dow tumbling 102 points to 17,874 as rate concerns resurfaced. Nasdaq edged up a fraction to 4,930.
On the upside
Esperion Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ESPR) reported positive results from a Phase 2b study of ETC-1002 to lower LDL-cholesterol.
Arotech (Nasdaq: ARTX) swung to a better than expected profit for the fourth quarter.
Arcos Dorados (NYSE: ARCO) reported lower fourth quarter earnings but comparable sales rose.
On the downside
Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter.
Discovery Laboratories (Nasdaq: DSCO) reported a loss for the fourth quarter.
Avid (Nasdaq: AVID) fell to a fourth quarter loss.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 6 points to 2074. Bitcoin lost $4 to $284.
Interest rate concerns weigh down stocks
March 17, 2015 at 14:18 PM EDT
