The markets advanced during the midday with the Dow adding 22 points to 15,259 as the nation's leaders prepared to meet to discuss the debt ceiling. Nasdaq rose 10 points to 3802.
On the upside
Barron's wrote that Kulicke & Soffa Industries (Nasdaq: KLIC) was inexpensive and has the potential to soar 50%.
MannKind (Nasdaq: MNKD) resubmitted a new drug application for its inhaled insulin product AFREZZA.
Opko Health (NYSE: OPK) chairman and chief executive Phillip Frost, M.D. purchased shares in the company.
On the downside
Longbow Research said that Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) was unlikely to beat third quarter earnings expectations due to weak September shipments.
A Seeking Alpha contributor expects Frontline (NYSE: FRO) to file for bankruptcy.
Bernstein analyst Dr. Tim Anderson downgraded Merck (NYSE: MRK) from an Outperform rating to a Market Perform rating.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 5 to 4 on the NYSE while advancers were on par with decliners on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 edged up a point to 1704.
