Benzinga Mid-Day Market Update

Following the market opening Tuesday morning, the Dow traded down 0.60 percent to 13,502.44 while the NASDAQ fell 1.34 percent to 3,070.75. The S&P also fell, decreasing 0.77 percent to 1,444.71. Earnings season has officially starts today, with Alcoa

kicking off the period when it reports earnings this afternoon.

Spectrum Brands

traded up 10.30 percent midway through Tuesday to $45.96 following the announcement that it would acquire Stanley's Black & Decker Home Improvement Group. Gulfport Energy

was also up, rising 5.16 percent to $32.00 after the company confirmed its 2012 guidance. Shares of Alpha Natural Resources

also received a boost in early trading, increasing 4.87 percent to $7.11 after Goldman Sachs reiterated its neutral rating of the company and lowered its price target.

Edwards Lifesciences

continued to trade down 19.47 percent midway through Tuesday to $87.73 after the company lowered its sales guidance. Owens Corning

was also down, falling 8.22 percent to $31.16 after cutting its fiscal year forecast. Shares of Netflix (NASDAQ; NFLX) took a hit Tuesday morning as well, trading down 7.45 percent to $68.04 after a Bank of America downgrade.

In commodity news, Oil traded up 3.22 percent to $92.20, while Gold traded down 0.44 percent to $1,767.90. Silver was traded down 0.16 percent mid-way through Tuesday at $33.86.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is paying Greece a visit today, and is receiving a less than welcoming reception by the populace. Watch for comments from Merkel and other leaders at the summit which may lead to market swings.

In economic news, the NFIB Small Business Optimism figure was reported today, coming in at 92.8, slightly below the 93.5 estimate and the prior figure of 92.9.