Consumer confidence climbed in August by the markets closed lower with the Dow losing 48 points to 18,454 over concerns of an imminent rate hike. Nasdaq fell 9 points to 5,222.
On the upside
Jefferies upgraded Karoypharm Therapeutics (Nasdaq: KPTI) from a Hold rating to a Buy rating and lifted its price target from $9 to $12.
Agrium (NYSE: AGU) confirmed that the farm products retailer engaged merger talks with fertilizer producer Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT).
United Continental (NYSE: UAL) hired former American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL) president Scott Kirby to be president of United Continental prompting an upgrade.
On the downside
Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK) widened losses for the second quarter as revenue fell.
DSW (NYSE: DSW) reported lower second quarter earnings as same store sales slipped.
Falling gold prices weighed down shares of Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 10 to 9 on the NYSE while advancers edged out decliners by 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 fell 4 points to 2,176. Bitcoin added $3 to $576.
