The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow slipping 18 points to 11,343 as the nation's unemployment rate posted an surprise gain. Nasdaq rose 5 points to 2585.
On the upside
Speculation that Microvision (Nasdaq: MVIS) technology may be incorporated into Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone 5 lifted shares of the miniature display and imaging company.
Gentex (Nasdaq: GNTX) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11 cents per share payable on January 21, 2011 to shareholders of record January 6, 2011.
VeriFone Systems (NYSE: PAY) reversed year ago losses to post a better than expected profit for the fourth quarter as revenue climbed.
On the downside
Morgan Stanley downgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG).
Vector Group (NYSE: VGR) completed its private placement of $90 million in senior secured notes.
Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY) disappointed with lower fourth quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 10 to 9 on the NYSE while advancers were on par with decliners on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a point to 752.