Easing crude oil prices lifted the markets modestly higher during the midday with the Dow rising 22 points to 12,007. Nasdaq added 5 points to 2706.
On the upside
Valero (NYSE: VLO) announced that it will acquire Chevron's (NYSE: CVX) Wales refinery for approximately $730 million and will pay an additional $1 billion for all the plant's inventories.
AK Steel's (NYSE: AKS) coke plants in Kentucky and Ohio received awards from the American Coke and Cola Chemicals Institute for outstanding safety performance.
Clean Energy Fuels (Nasdaq: CLNE) reversed year ago losses to post a greater than expected profit for the fourth quarter as revenue nearly doubled.
On the downside
