Despite rising crude oil prices, the markets traded in positive territory during the midday with the Dow adding 12 points to 12,362 as jobless claims dropped last week. Nasdaq edged up a point to 2778.

On the upside

Luna Innovations (Nasdaq: LUNA) extended its agreement to supply Intuitive Surgical (Nasdaq: ISRG) with Luna's shape sensing technology.

Economic Daily News reported that AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) will supply Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) with flat panel screens for the iPad 2.

A 4.5% increase in corn acreage this year lifted shares of fertilizer firm CF Industries (NYSE: CF).

On the downside

Multiband (Nasdaq: MBND) reported sharply higher fourth quarter earnings as revenue rose but the stock price tumbled.

General Maritime (NYSE: GMR) priced its public offering of 23 million common shares at $2.00 per share.

Investors locked in profits on Qihoo 360 Technology (NYSE: QIHU), whose shares surged yesterday in its market debut.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 7 to 5 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks edged up a fraction to 840.