Lower open ahead of Fed minutes release

The markets opened lower with the Dow losing 46 points to 17,641 as investors await the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes. Nasdaq dropped 29 points to 4,672.

On the upside

Oplink Communications (Nasdaq: OPLK) will be acquired by Koch Industries for a premium of approximately $445 million in cash.

Third quarter earnings slipped for Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) but the results were better than expected.

Agios Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AGIO) reported positive interim data from a Phase 1 study of AG-120 in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

On the downside

Vipshop Holdings (NYSE: VIPS) reported higher third quarter earnings and revenue that topped analyst estimates but investors were disappointed that the company's fourth quarter outlook merely met expectations.

Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) may close the Bloom Lake mine as part of its plans to exit its Eastern Canadian iron ore operations.

Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) reported lower third quarter earnings that missed expectations.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 7 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 lost 7 points to 2044. Bitcoin fell $10 to $374.