On the upside
NetGear (Nasdaq: NTGR) reversed year ago losses to post a stronger than expected profit as market share increased. The networking products maker also forecast first quarter results ahead of estimates.
Affiliated Managers Group (NYSE: AMG) will pay approximately $775 million in cash to acquire private equity firm Pantheon Ventures.
Legg Mason (NYSE: LM) reported that its assets under management dipped slightly in January due to Standard & Poor's 3.7% drop.
On the downside
Level 3 Communications (Nasdaq: LVLT) disappointed with a wider than expected loss for the fourth quarter.
Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) blamed greater operating expenses for sharply lower fourth quarter earnings and warned of a challenging first quarter.
ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) reversed year ago losses to report a fourth quarter profit but revenue fell and the steelmaker said that conditions in 2010 remain challenging.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks eased a point to 594.
