The markets opened flat with the Dow rising 8 points to 18,236 as durable goods orders were little changed August. Nasdaq held steady at 5,305.
On the upside
Anavex Life Sciences (Nasdaq: AVXL) signed a material transfer agreement for Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) to test Anavex's ANAVEX 2-73 in an oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation assay.
Origin Agritech (Nasdaq: SEED) will sell its commercial corn seed production and distribution business for approximately $60 million to Beijing Shihui Agricultural Development.
Shares of Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq: RGSE) extended its gains.
On the downside
Galectin Therapeutics (Nasdaq: GALT) reported disappointing results for its Phase 2a clinical trial of GR-MD-02 in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients with advanced fibrosis.
Tempur Sealy International (NYSE: TPX) warned that third quarter sales will fall short of prior guidance.
Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP) widened fourth quarter losses and announced the resignation of chief executive Stephen L. Wambold.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 2 to 1 on the NYSE and by 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 held steady at 2,159. Bitcoin slipped $1 to $603.
