The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow gaining 15 points to 12,391 as crude oil prices rose. Nasdaq slipped a point to 2788.
On the upside
Aastrom Biosciences (Nasdaq: ASTM) achieved an important manufacturing milestone ahead of schedule to produce cell cassettes.
Molycorp (NYSE: MCP) acquired a 90.023% stake in European rare earth processing facility AS Silmet for approximately $89 million. The acquisition doubles Molycorp's production capacity.
Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK) reached a tentative agreement with union workers at the the company's Elkview coal mine to end a two month strike.
On the downside
Muddy Waters Research said that Duoyuan Global Water (NYSE: DGW) issued false financial reports.
Hackers breached the security of Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) unit Epsilon to steal millions of customer email addresses from major retailers and banks.
A possible bankruptcy filing weighed down shares of Horizon Lines (NYSE: HRZ).
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added 2 points to 849.
