Upbeat earnings lifted the markets during the midday with the Dow gaining 54 points to 12,256. Nasdaq rose 4 points to 2739.
On the upside
First quarter earnings for Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK) more than doubled as coal and copper prices climbed.
Zix (Nasdaq: ZIXI) will offer secure email services to Pen Publishing clients.
Blackboard (Nasdaq: BBBB) hired Barclays Capital to evaluate unsolicited acquisition offers that the education software applications company has received.
On the downside
Investors locked in profits on Amarin (Nasdaq: AMRN), whose stock price surged yesterday on upbeat results from a Phase 3 ANCHOR trial for its AMR101.
Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) reported higher first quarter earnings and revenue that topped analyst estimates but the stock price fell.
Research in Motion (NYSE: RIMM) launched its PlayBook tablet amidst negative reviews and news that AT&T (NYSE: T) will not allow the PlayBook to tether to the AT&T BlackBerry Bold.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nealry 2 to 1 on the NYSE while advancers were on par with decliners on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks edged up a fraction to 822.