Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Helios and Matheson Analytics Jumps Amid News Of Merger With Zone Technologies; ProNAi Therapeutics Shares Drop

Toward the end of trading Monday, the Dow traded up 0.77 percent to 17,943.58 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.72 percent to 4,978.24. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.64 percent to 2,112.47. Leading and Lagging Sectors Monday afternoon, the energy sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Bristow Group Inc BRS and CARBO Ceramics Inc. CRR. In trading on Monday, utilities shares fell by 0.01 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included RGC Resources Inc. RGCO, down 4 percent, and Pure Cycle Corporation PCYO, down 2 percent. Top Headline Devon Energy Corp. DVN struck a definitive agreement with undisclosed parties to monetize nearly $1 billion of non-core upstream assets in east Texas, the Anadarko Basin and an overriding royalty interest in the northern Midland Basin. According to the company, these transactions were subject to customary terms and conditions and were expected to close in the third quarter of the current year. The Company sees incurring minimal taxes in connection with these transactions. Equities Trading UP Vascular Biogenics Ltd VBLT shares shot up 87 percent to $7.41 after the company reported data that showed significant overall survivor benefit in rGBM patients receiving VB-111 versus historical Avastin. Around 10:00 a.m. ET, rumors surfaced the company may be a takeover candidate for Bristol Myers Squibb BMY. Shares of Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc HMNY got a boost, shooting up 622 percent to $8.03 amid news of merger with Zone Technologies. Command Security Corporation MOC shares were also up, gaining 37 percent to $3.30 after the company reported that it was awarded a 10-year Indefinite Quantity Airport Security Screening Services contract with the DHS Transportation Security Administration. Equities Trading DOWN ProNAi Therapeutics Inc DNAI shares dropped 65 percent to $2.24 after the company reported interim data from Wolverine Phase 2 trial of PNT2258 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The company discontinued the development of DLBCL. Shares of Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp ADMP were down 54 percent to $4.10 as the company revealed Monday it was advised by the FDA to expand its human study, as well as reliability student, i.e. product stress testing, to get its support for its NDA for Epinephrine injection. The medical regulator issued a complete response letter to it on Friday after the market closed. Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. MRTX was down, falling around 43 percent to $10.50 after the company provided an update on its current clinical programs in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. Jefferies downgraded the stock to Hold from Buy following not-so-impressive clinical data. Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 1.65 percent to $49.42 while gold traded up 0.34 percent to $1,247.10. Silver traded up 0.40 percent Monday to $16.43, while copper rose 0.17 percent to $2.12. Eurozone European shares closed higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.33 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index gained 0.25 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index climbed 0.74 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX gained 0.18 percent, and the French CAC 40 rose 0.04 percent, while U.K. shares rose 1.03 percent. Economics U.S. CB Employment Trends Index slipped to 126.81 for May, versus a prior reading of 128.30.