Despite an increase in housing starts, the markets traded lower during the midday with the Dow slipping 15 points to 17,672 ahead of the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes. Nasdaq lost 18 points to 4,683.
On the upside
China Distance Education Holdings (NYSE: DL) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue.
Stage Stores (NYSE: SSI) narrowed losses for the third quarter as revenue rose.
Soaring auction bids for airwaves boosted shares of spectrum owner Dish Networks (Nasdaq: DISH).
On the downside
Leju Holdings (NYSE: LEJU) reported higher third quarter earnings but revenue fell short of expectations and the Chinese online real estate company forecast full year results below expectations.
Investors locked in profits on Harmony Gold (NYSE: HMY).
Cloud Peak Energy (NYSE: CLD) commenced a public offering of $100 million worth of convertible preferred stock.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 4 points to 2047. Bitcoin lost $2 to $374.
Markets lower ahead of Fed minutes release
November 19, 2014 at 13:38 PM EST