The markets opened mixed with the Dow falling 46 points to 26,025 as the government shutdown entered its third day. Nasdaq added 2 points to 7338.
On the upside
Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) will pay a premium of approximately $11.6 billion in cash to acquire Bioverativ (Nasdaq: BIVV).
Validus (NYSE: VR) will be acquired by AIG for a premium of approximately $5.56 billion in cash.
Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG) agreed to acquire Juno Therapeutics (Nasdaq: JUNO) for a premium of approximately $9 billion in cash.
On the downside
Shares of Protection One (NYSE: ADT) continued to fall.
New Oriental Education & Technology Group (NYSE: EDU) will release earnings tomorrow before market open.
Ctrip International (Nasdaq: CTRP) signed a strategic partnership agreement with European Travel Commission but the stock price fell.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 6 to 5 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 eased a point to 2,809. Bitcoin rose $436 to $10,767.
