February factory orders rose less than expected to weigh the markets down during the midday with the Dow losing 44 points to 13,220. Nasdaq slipped 3 points to 3116.
On the upside
Conn's (Nasdaq: CONN) reversed year ago losses to post a better than expected profit for the fourth quarter and lifted its guidance for the full year 2013.
EnteroMedics (Nasdaq: ETRM) made its first commercial shipment of the Maestro Rechargeable System to Australia and announced a multi-year deal to distribute the system to Gulf Coast Countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) will replace Taleo (Nasdaq: TLEO) on Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index after market close on Thursday, April 5.
On the downside
Forbes warned that Qihoo 360 Technology's (NYSE: QIHU) financials may face stringent audit for its first quarter results.
Sales of fuel efficient cars boosted March auto sales for General Motors (NYSE: GM) but the stock price fell.
Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) chief executive Kevin Crutchfield received a 2011 compensation package worth more than $6.7 million.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks slipped 3 points to 837.
