Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Roughly Flat, Solar Stocks Rise on Buffett Investment

Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded down 0.14 percent to 13,394.20 while the NASDAQ fell 0.02 percent to 3,111.70. The S&P also fell, decreasing 0.05 percent to 1,461.25.

Many retailers reported December same store sales this morning, with notable beats from Macy's

and The Gap

. On the red side, Bebe

and Fred's

both posted big misses.

SunPower Corporation

saw a 28.06 percent rally to $7.85 after Warren Buffett's Midamerican Energy Holdings purchased its Antelope Valley Solar projects for an undisclosed sum. Shares of Sonus Networks

was also up, gaining 8.46 percent to $2.12 on speculation that the company would replace Acme Packet's gateway equipment at Verizon Wireless. First Solar

saw a boost as well, trading up 5.87 percent to $33.90 on Warren Buffett's recent solar investment.

Allot Communications

was among the day's top losers, falling 22.48 percent to $14.17 after the company was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Wunderlich Securities. Mellanox Technologies

was also having a rough morning, falling 15.57 percent to $51.66 after the company cut its sales forecast after the close Wednesday. Shares of Family Dollar

got hit as well, dropping 10.95 percent to $57.03 after the company issued poor guidance in its earnings report Thursday morning.

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.20 percent to $92.93, while gold traded down 0.52 percent to $1,680.40. Silver traded down 0.03 percent Thursday to $30.98.

European markets fell this morning as traders lost confidence in the fiscal cliff deal that has been criticized as just “kicking the can down the road”.

In economic news Thursday, initial jobless claims came in at 362.0 thousand, above the anticipated 360.0 thousand and the prior report of 350.0 thousand, while continuing claims were reported at 3.246 million, higher than the projected 3.21 million and the previous release of 3.206 million. ADP non-farm employment change was released as well, coming in at 215 thousand, well above the projected 140 thousand and the previous report of 118 thousand. Finally, challenger job cuts were also reported, coming in at -22.1 percent, far below the prior reading of 34.40 percent.