Crude oil prices retreated during the midday to hover near $30 per barrel. The markets reversed course with the Dow slipping 18 points to 16,380. Nasdaq added 4 points to 4,642.
On the upside
Recon Technology (Nasdaq: RCON) will sell chemical agents to Qinghai Oilfields for wastewater treatment.
Silicon Graphics International (Nasdaq: SGI) reported preliminary results for the second quarter that surpassed previous guidance.
Apollo Education Group (Nasdaq: APOL) retained the services of Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse to explore strategic options.
On the downside
Axiom Capital Management analyst Gordon Johnson questioned the steep expenses of SunEdison's (NYSE: SUNE) debt restructuring.
Heartware International (Nasdaq: HTWR) reported preliminary fourth quarter revenue that missed expectations.
Skullcandy (Nasdaq: SKUL) lowered is fourth quarter earnings and revenue guidance.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 2 on the NYSE and by 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped a point to 1,921. Bitcoin lost $2 to $445.