The markets traded flat during the midday with the Dow rising 5 points to 17,137 as consumer prices dropped. Nasdaq edged up a point to 4,553.

On the upside

Shares of Tokai Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TKAI) surged on its first trading day.

CTI BioPharma (Nasdaq: CTIC) entered an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Servier to develop and commercialize PIXUVRI to treat aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

YRC Worldwide (Nasdaq: YRCW) amended its credit agreement.

On the downside

Oncolytics Biotech (Nasdaq: ONCY) reported that its carboplatin, paclitaxel plus REOLYSIN treatment for pancreatic cancer barely extended the median progression free survival time in test patients prompting a downgrade.

Profit taking sank shares of Sino-Global Shipping America (Nasdaq: SINO).

Skechers USA (NYSE: SKX) sued DB Shoe Company for infringing on its Skechers Go Walk product line.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by nearly 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 held steady at 1998. Bitcoin fell $11 to $448.