Market Update

Shares of Willis Group Holdings

dropped about 2.3% after Willis Italy, part of Willis Group Holding acquired Broking Italia SRL, a specialist in the Italian insurance market. The terms of the deal were not announced. Shares of PDL BioPharma Inc

dropped about 2.1% after the company announced the resignation of the company's vice president and chief financial officer Christine Larson, effective as of December 9, 2011. Shares of Lifetime Brands Inc

declined about 2.3% after the company bought a 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A. The terms of the deal were not announced. Shares of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc

fell about 1.3% after the company's board named Chief Executive Scott L. Thompson as the company's new chairman. Scott L. Thompson will replace Richard W. Neutral as Chairman.