Crude oil prices fell to weigh the markets down to a lower open with the Dow falling 56 points to 16,357. Nasdaq added 3 points to 4,491.
On the upside
A study by Indiana University School of Medicine found that pre-diabetic adults enrolled in a nationally available weight management program such as Weight Watchers (NYSE: WTW) lost significantly more weight than those following a self initiated weight loss program.
Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) reported better than expected earnings for the first quarter and forecast current quarter results ahead of estimates.
RiverNorth Capital Management agreed to not contest Fifth Street Asset Management's (Nasdaq: FSAM) slate of director nominees.
On the downside
Fourth quarter earnings rose for Trinity Industries (NYSE: TRN) but revenue fell and the company forecast 2016 earnings well below expectations.
Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) reported lower fourth quarter earnings that fell short of expectations and forecast full year earnings that missed estimates.
Falling crude oil prices weighed down shares of Denbury Resources (NYSE: DNR) and Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 7 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 lost 6 points to 1,911. Bitcoin held steady at $420.