A drop in jobless claims raised concerns that the Federal Reserve would increase interest rates. The markets opened mixed with the Dow slipping 11 points to 16,728 while Nasdaq gained 8 points to 4,897.
On the upside
Altice will acquire Cablevision System (NYSE: CVC) in a deal valued at approximately $17.7 billion including the assumption of debt.
Aerie Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AERI) reported positive results from a Phase 3 trial of Rhopressa to treat glaucoma.
WaferGen Bio-systems (Nasdaq: WGBS) presented positive results from its Single-Cell System at the Single Cell Genomics Conference.
On the downside
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) disappointed with sharply lower second quarter earnings and trimmed its full year drugstore sales forecast.
Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) announced a 1-for-15 reverse stock split.
Shares of Terex (Nasdaq: TEX) fell after Konecranes cut is 2015 outlook. Terex will merge with Konecranes in an all-stock transaction.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 9 to 7 on the NYSE and by more than 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 held steady at 1,995. Bitcoin added $2 to $229.
Mixed open as jobless claims drop
September 17, 2015 at 10:42 AM EDT