The markets opened higher with the Dow rising 24 points to 12,744 as Greece appeared close to finalizing an agreement with its creditors. Nasdaq gained 11 points to 2798.
On the upside
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) will cut natural gas production by 8% due to an oversupply of the fuel.
Shares of Cell Therapeutics (NYSE: CTIC) continued to rise after announcing that the Eurpean Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use may issue an opinion of the company’s Marketing Authorization Application for Pixuvri in mid-February.
Sears Holdings (NYSE: SHLD) director Eddie S. Lampert purchased $3.3 million worth of common stock.
On the downside
Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) announced the appointment of Thorsten Heins to the position of chief executive replacing co-chief executives Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, who have resigned.
Shares of Columbia Laboratories (NYSE: CBRX) continued falling after a Food and Drug advisory panel rejected its preterm birth prevention gel Prochieve on Friday.
Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) reported higher fourth quarter earnings but investors were disappointed that the results failed to surpass expectations.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 7 to 2 the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks rose 4 points to 789.