Rising crude oil prices weighed the markets down to a lower open with the Dow losing 28 points to 16,918. Nasdaq slipped 5 points to 4,362.
On the upside
Nanosphere (Nasdaq: NSPH) will provide multi-target molecular diagnostic tests to HealthTrust members.
Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) will pay a premium of approximately $5.3 billion to acquire Micros Systems (Nasdaq: MCRS).
PLX Technology (Nasdaq: PLXT) will be acquired by Avago Technologies (Nasdaq: AVGO) in an all cash deal valued at approximately $309 million.
On the downside
Profit taking weighed down shares of Meritor (NYSE: MTOR).
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) settled its tender offer for senior notes due 2017.
Investors locked in profits on American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL).
In the broad market, declining issues barely outpaced advancers by a slim margin on the NYSE and by 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added a fraction to 1963. Bitcoin lost $10.89 or 1.86% to $585.55.