Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Hexcel Drops On Earnings Miss; Weight Watchers Shares Spike Higher

Toward the end of trading Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.01 percent to 17,232.61 while the NASDAQ slipped 0.49 percent to 4,881.67. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.09 percent to 2,031.82.

In trading on Tuesday, telecommunications services shares jumped by 0.49 percent. Top gainers in the sector included

, up 8 percent, and

, up 7 percent. In trading on Tuesday, healthcare shares dipped by 1.58 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included

, down 21 percent, and

, off 18 percent.

dropped over 7 percent in pre-market trading after the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the third quarter and lowered its motorcycle shipment outlook for the full year. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company posted quarterly net income of $140.3 million, or $0.69 per share, compared to $150.1 million, or $0.69 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its consolidated revenue rose to $1.32 billion from $1.30 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.78 per share on revenue of $1.21 billion.

shares shot up 182 percent to $6.94 after the company reported that it has signed a 15-year license with

to provide exclusive rights to its vorteq hydraulic fracturing technology. Shares of

got a boost, shooting up 33 percent to $18.54. Barclays upgraded Weight Watchers from Underweight to Equal-weight and raised the price target from $5.00 to $14.00.

shares were also up, gaining 28 percent to $6.64 after the company posted upbeat Q3 earnings.

shares tumbled 28 percent to $9.94 after the company reported downbeat revenue for the third quarter and issued a weak revenue forecast. The company also announced plans to cut 8 percent of staff. Shares of

were down 15 percent to $23.08 on weak revenue forecast for the third quarter.

was down, falling 9 percent to $42.04 after the company reported downbeat Q3 earnings and lowered its FY15 sales forecast.

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.11 percent to $45.84, while gold traded up 0.27 percent to $1,176.00. Silver traded up 0.18 percent Tuesday to $15.87, while copper rose 0.02 percent to $2.37.

European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 declined 0.43 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index fell 1.05 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index dipped 0.67 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX slipped 0.16 percent, and the French CAC 40 dropped 0.64 percent, while U.K. shares fell 0.11 percent.

U.S. housing starts climbed 6.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.21 million in September. However, economists were expecting a starts rate of 1.14 million.