Job growth slowed in December with businesses adding a lower than expected 153,000 jobs last month. The markets closed mixed with the Dow falling 42 points to 19,899. Nasdaq rose 10 points to 5,487.
On the upside
Gartner (Nasdaq: IT) will pay approximately $2.6 billion in cash and stock to acquire CEB (NYSE: CEB).
Halozyme Therapeutics (Nasdaq: HALO) positive topline results from a Phase 2 study of PEGPH20 in combination with ABRAXANE and gemcitabine to treat stage IV pancreas cancer patients.
Alamos Gold (NYSE: AGI) received the Forestry Permits that are required to develop its Kirazli gold project in Turkey.
On the downside
Asterna Zentaris (Nasdaq: AEZS) reported disappointing results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of Macrilen.
Investors locked in profits on BioScrip (Nasdaq: BIOS).
Disappointing holiday sales from Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) and Macy's (NYSE: M) weighed down shares of Dillard's (NYSE: DDS).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index eased a point to 2,269. Bitcoin tumbled $20 to $975.
