On the upside
A Phase 2 clinical trial of Keryx Biopharmaceuticals' (Nasdaq: KERX) colon cancer treatment KRX-0401 improved survival rates.
AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) reversed year ago losses to post a greater than expected profit for the fourth quarter.
Liberty Global (Nasdaq: LBTYA) will sell its 37.8% stake of Jupiter Telecommunications to KDDI, Japan's second largest telecommunications company, for $4 billion in cash.
On the downside
While Poniard Pharmaceuticals' (Nasdaq: PARD) picoplatin met Phase II study goals in treating nerve damage in colon cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the results were not as effective as oxaliplatin, which is already approved for chemotherapy patients.
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) reported higher fourth quarter earnings as the company controlled costs but revenue fell short of estimates.
Shares of MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG) fell ahead of its earnings release tomorrow.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a fraction to 617.