The markets opened mixed with the Dow slipping 6 points to 16,148 while Nasdaq gained 21 points to 4265 as investors monitored earnings news.
On the upside
Actavis (NYSE: ACT) will pay a premium of approximately $25 billion in cash and stock to acquire Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX).
Prana Biotechnology (Nasdaq: PRAN) reported positive results from a Phase 2 REACH2HD clinical trial of its Huntington disease treatment PBT2.
Motley Fool wrote that Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) has much growth potential.
On the downside
Galena Biopharma (Nasdaq: GALE) acknowledged that it did hire marketing firm The DreamTeam Group to promote company stock.
Dresser-Rand (NYSE: DRC) will suspend operations at a pig manure treatment facility in Spain before a potential new regulation can negatively impact the company.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) reported lower fourth quarter earnings as revenue fell.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added a point to 1840. Bitcoin slipped $6.55 or 1.28% to $504.12.
