The markets closed mixed with the Dow rising 34 points to 13,610 despite an upbeat jobs report as gasoline prices soared. Nasdaq fell 13 points to 3136.
On the upside
Citi Investment Research analyst Philip Stiller affirmed his Buy rating on VeriFone Systems (NYSE: PAY) saying that the stock price was poised to recover.
XenoPort (Nasdaq: XNPT) reported upbeat preliminary results for its relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and/or psoriasis treatment XP23829.
Oppenheimer affirmed its Outperform rating for Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR) and lifted its price target to $25 from $20.
On the downside
Avian Securities analyst Mark Bachman downgraded First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) to a Negative rating citing reliability concerns.
Monster Worldwide (NYSE: MWW) reported a 3% annual increase to its U. S. employment index for September but a 2% sequential drop.
R. W. Baird analyst William Power downgraded Neutral Tandem (Nasdaq: IQNT) to a Neutral rating and cut its price target to $10 from $15.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 9 to 7 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by nearly 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks eased a point to 842.
Mixed Close As Gas Prices Climb
October 05, 2012 at 18:13 PM EDT
