The markets opened flat with the Dow slipping 2 points to 18,270 while Nasdaq added a point to 5,049 as talks between Greece and its creditors continued with little progress.
On the upside
Ascena Retail Group will pay approximately $2.16 billion in cash and stock to acquire Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN).
Four U. S. electric utility companies requested that the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review Lightbridge's (Nasdaq: LTBR) patented metallic fuel design.
OraSure Technologies (Nasdaq: OSUR) president and chief executive Douglas A. Michels will ring the Nasadaq Opening Bell on Tuesday, May 19.
On the downside
Eleven Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: EBIO) reported disappointing results from a Phase 3 study of its dry-eye disease treatment EBI-005.
Profit taking weighed down shares of MagneGas (Nasdaq: MNGA).
Shares of Weibo (Nasdaq: WB) extended its losses.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by nearly 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 held steady at 2122. Bitcoin added $1 to $237.
Flat open as Greece continues debt discussions
May 18, 2015 at 10:43 AM EDT