The markets closed flat with the Dow slipping 9 points to 13,973 as investors weighed corporate merger and acquisition news against slowing growth in Europe. Nasdaq added a point to 3198.
On the upside
GNC Holdings (NYSE: GNC) reported higher fourth quarter earnings that beat expectations and forecast 2013 earnings ahead of estimates.
Fourth quarter earnings for ValueClick (Nasdaq: VCLK) climbed to surpass analyst expectations and the company forecast current quarter earnings above estimates.
UBS analyst Brent Thill upgraded ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) to a Buy rating and lifted his price target to $36 from $30.
On the downside
Nanosphere (Nasdaq: NSPH) reported a loss for the fourth quarter and cut its projected enteric pathogens panels placements in the first quarter.
Encana (NYSE: ECA) posted a fourth quarter loss and said that its search for a new chief executive may take as long as three to six months.
The Food and Drug Administration expanded an import ban to include three Hospira (NYSE: HSP) intravenous pumps manufactured in Costa Rica.
In the broad market, declining issues were on par with advancers on the NYSE while advancers edged out decliners by a margin of more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added a point to 1521.
