The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow climbing 63 points to 12,687 in anticipation of the implementation of the Federal Reserve's new communications policy next week. Nasdaq lost 4 points to 2783.
On the upside
CNBC reported that Talbots (NYSE: TLB) may be engaged in negotiations to be acquired by Golden Gate or TPG.
CIT Group may resume financing loans to suppliers for Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD).
AsiaInfo-Linkage (Nasdaq: ASIA) received an acquisition offer from Power Joy.
On the downside
The Federal Bureau of Investigations charged Cogent Communications (Nasdaq: CCOI) client Megaupload.com with copyright infringement and shut down the content sharing website.
Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL) lowered its production guidance for the fourth quarter as well as the full year.
TreeHouse Foods (NYSE: THS) warned that fourth quarter earnings will fall short of expectations and cut its full year outlook as warm weather hurt sales.
In the broad market, advancing issues barely edged out decliners by a margin by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 the NYSE and by more than 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a point to 783.