The markets opened mixed with the Dow slipping 8 points to 14,980 while Nasdaq added 2 points to 3446 as the nation's unemployment rate held steady at 7.6%.
On the upside
Shares of JA Solar (Nasdaq: JASO) and Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) rose as China and the European Union neared an agreement on Chinese solar panels.
Needham initiated coverage of 21st Century Fox (Nasdaq: FOXA) on Wednesday with a Buy rating and a $36 price target.
Standard & Poor's downgraded the long term corporate credit rating of Nokia (NYSE: NOK) to a BB- but the stock price rose.
On the downside
Linn Energy (Nasdaq: LINE) fell for the third day in a row after announcing an informal SEC inquiry.
Real estate investment trust American Capital Agency (Nasdaq: AGNC) extended its losses over continued concerns about rising interest rates.
Falling gold prices weighed down shares of Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC) and Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 5 to 4 on the NYSE while advancers edged out decliners by nearly 7 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added a point to 1616.
