The markets extended its steep losses during the midday with the Dow crashing 254 points to 17,741 as the dollar climbed to a 12-year high against the euro. Nasdaq dove 69 points to 4,873.

On the upside

Shares of Geron (Nasdaq: GERN) extended its gains.

Cytori Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CYTX) chief executive Dr. Marc H. Hedrick will present today at the 27th Annual ROTH Conference.

Western Alliance Bancorporation will acquire Bridge Capital Holdings (Nasdaq: BBNK) in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $425 million.

On the downside

Westport Innovations (Nasdaq: WPRT) reported a wider than expected loss for the fourth quarter.

Shares of BioScrip (Nasdaq: BIOS) extended its losses.

NN (Nasdaq: NNBR) disappointed with sharply lower fourth quarter earnings that missed analyst expectations and forecast full year revenue below estimates.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 4 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 plummeted 27 points to 2051. Bitcoin added $4 to $292.