February retail sales rose more than expected due to higher gas prices. The markets opened lower with the Dow losing 25 points to 14,424 while Nasdaq slipped 6 points to 3235.
On the upside
Silver Spring Networks (NYSE: SSNI) soared in its market debut.
WMware (NYSE: VMW) will extend its software-defined data center and expand its hybrid cloud service.
BG Medicine (Nasdaq: BGMD) narrowed fourth quarter losses as revenue surged.
On the downside
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SPPI) warned that first quarter sales of its chemotherapy side effects treatment Fusilev will drop.
Express (NYSE: EXPR) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue but the clothing retailer forecast current quarter and full year earnings that fell far short of analyst expectations.
Velti (Nasdaq: VELT) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter and forecast current quarter and full year revenue well below expectations.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by more than 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index slipped 2 points to 1550.
