It was a mixed close for the markets with the Dow losing 22 points to 19,804 as average hourly earnings edged up 0.1% in December while the consumer price index rose 0.3%. Nasdaq gained 16 points to 5,555.
On the upside
The Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track designation to aTyr Pharma's (Nasdaq: LIFE) limb girdle muscular dystrophy treatment Resolaris.
Uni-Pixel (Nasdaq: UNXL) entered a Memorandum of Understanding with General Interface Solution to form a three year strategic manufacturing project.
Zacks Investment Research upgraded Star Bulk Carriers (Nasdaq: SBLK) from a Hold rating to a Buy rating.
On the downside
Pearson (NYSE: PSO) warned of lower earnings for the next two years and said that it would cut its dividend.
Bonanza Creek Energy (NYSE: BCEI) received an unsolicited inquiry from Bill Barrett regarding a potential transaction between Bonanza Creek and Bill Barrett.
Shares of EnteroMedics (Nasdaq: ETRM) plunged for the fifth day.
In the broad market, advancing issues edged out advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by nearly 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added rose 4 points to 2,271. Bitcoin tumbled $31 to $867.
