Markets Mixed At Midday

The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow gaining 8 points to 8134 over a better than expected gain in consumer sentiment. Nasdaq lost points to 1664.

On the upside

Unisys (NYSE: UIS) landed a task order valued at approximately $92 million for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Quantum (NYSE: QTM) amended its credit agreement.

Oppenheimer cited the completion of DryShips' (Nasdaq: DRYS) equity offering for upgrading the drybulk carrier.

On the downside

First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) blamed loan losses for swinging to a first quarter loss.

Shares of MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) continued falling after billionaire investor Carl Icahn recommended that the casino operator file for bankruptcy.

Trading on shares of Lender Processing (NYSE: LPS) was halted after the stock plunged morning. News is pending.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by nearly 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a point to 475.