The markets opened lower with the Dow losing 10 points to 18,075 as crude oil prices slipped. Nasdaq held steady at 5,210.
On the upside
Exelixis (Nasdaq: EXEL) reported positive results from a Phase 3 study of cabozantinib to treat patients with metatastic renal cell carcinoma.
SunEdison (Nasdaq: SUNE) will pay a premium of approximately $2.2 billion to acquire Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR).
Shares of Genetic Technologies (Nasdaq: GENE) extended its gains.
On the downside
New Jersey’s Division of Purchase and Property, Procurement Bureau will award a Third Party Liability Services contract to a competitor of HMS Holdings (Nasdaq: HMSY).
Fourth quarter earnings and revenue rose for Cal-Maine Foods (Nasdaq: CALM) but the results fell short of analyst expectations.
Profit taking weighed down shares of Etsy (Nasdaq: ETSY).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 2124. Bitcoin added $3 to $275.