The markets traded lower during the midday with the Dow slipping 5 points to 21,806. Nasdaq lost 19 points to 6,259.
Harley-Davidson redesigned eight cruiser motorcycles to celebrate its 115th anniversary next year. The new bikes all have new chassis and suspension systems to provide a better ride. A specially configured engine that is lighter than previous models will offer quicker acceleration and better braking.
Papa John's franchisee in Russia and Belarus announced plans to open restaurants in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Poland. Sixteen restaurants are slated for Kazakhstan while six are planned for Kyrgyzstan and 23 in Poland. The first restaurant in Kazakhstan will open in the next few month with the remaining locations expected to open over the next three to five years.
Another 28 Kmart stores will be closed as part of Sears Holdings' continuing efforts to cut costs. The department store operator had already announced the closure of 330 locations amidst declining sales. Employees of the impacted locations will be notified today then a list of store closures will be released to the public.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 4 to 3 on the NYSE and by a margin of nearly 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 3 points to 2,440. Bitcoin surged $139 to $4,220.
