The nation's unemployment rate fell to 4.6% in November, the lowest level in more than nine years, raising concerns that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this month. The markets opened mixed with the Dow slipping 15 points to 19,176. Nasdaq added 4 points 5,255.
On the upside
Nova Lifestyle (Nasdaq: NVFY) partnered with Future World LifeStyle to offer Nova LifeStyle's Diamond Sofa Smart Furniture on Future World LifeStyle's website.
Merrill Lynch upgraded J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating.
Bargain hunters snapped up shares of Heat Biologics (Nasdaq: HTBX).
On the downside
Workday (NYSE: WDAY) widened losses for the third quarter.
Smith & Wesson (Nasdaq: SWHC) reported higher third quarter earnings and revenue but the company forecast current quarter earnings below estimates.
Fairmount Santrol Holdings (NYSE: FMSA) priced its upsized secondary public offering of 20 million common shares at the discounted price of $8.75 per share.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 10 to 9 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by more than 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added 2 points to 2,194. Bitcoin leaped $21 to $768.
