The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow climbing 60 points to 11,847 as investors await more earnings releases. Nasdaq rose 4 points to 2759.
On the upside
Ener1 (Nasdaq: HEV) entered a joint venture with Wanxiang Electriv Vehicle to manufacture Li-ion cells and battery packs fo China.
Speculation that Germany may lower feed-in tariffs lifter shares of LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) and Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE).
Longbow upgraded Avnet (NYSE: AVT) to a Buy rating.
On the downside
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) reversed year ago losses to post a profit for the fourth quarter but the results fell short of expectations and the company warned that rising fuel costs will negatively impact 2011 earnings.
McMoRan Exploration (NYSE: MMR) disappointed by widening fourth quarter losses.
E-commerce China Dangdang's chief executive (NYSE: C) criticized Morgan Stanley and engaged in a war of words on Sunday with another user of a microblogging service.
