A drop in initial applications for unemployment benefits lifted the markets to a modestly higher close with the Dow rising 22 points to 10,594. Nasdaq edged up a point to 2303.
On the upside
Northland Securities initiated coverage of Quantum (NYSE: QTM) with an Outperform rating.
Education Management (Nasdaq: EDMC) reassured investors thatstudent enrollment triggered by proposed regulations.
Television advertising firm China MediaExpress (Nasdaq: CCME) signed a three year contract to operate television screens and provide programming along with paid advertising on Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport's express buses.
On the downside
William Lozito of Strategic Name Development questioned Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) rebranding to Xfinity saying that the cable company is attempting to distance itself from customer complaints by changing its name.
Shares of Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) fell ahead of its earnings release after market close.
Activision (Nasdaq: ATVI) stock fell over concerns that the company's upcoming release Call of Duty: Black Ops may not sell as well as previous titles in the franchise.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks lost 4 points to 647.
