Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Dow Climbs Over 100 Points; HF Financial Shares Rise On Merger News

Toward the end of trading Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.67 percent to 17,837.68 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.65 percent to 5,141.93. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.70 percent to 2,094.97.

In trading on Tuesday, healthcare shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.18 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included

, up 10 percent, and

, up 9 percent. Utilities shares slipped by 0.01 percent in the US market on Tuesday. Top losers in the sector included

,

, and

.

reported better-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter and issued a strong outlook on Monday. The Santa Clara, California-based company reported a quarterly net loss of $1.5 million, or $0.03 per share, versus a year-ago net loss of $10.2 million, or $0.18 per share. Its non-GAAP earnings surged to $0.13 per share from $0.05 per share. Its total net revenue climbed 40.9 percent year-over-year to $94.0 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.06 per share on revenue of $87.58 million.

shares shot up 19 percent to $19.31 after

announced plans to acquire HF Financial Corp in a transaction valued at $19.70 per share. Shares of

got a boost, shooting up 24 percent to $18.58 after the company reported better-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter and issued a strong outlook. The company's board also announced a $100 million share buyback program.

shares were also up, gaining 12 percent to $21.87. Shoe Carnival reported in-line earnings for the third quarter on Monday, while the company's sales exceeded analysts' estimates.

shares tumbled 22 percent to $1.56 after the company reported the suspension of distribution for common units. Shares of

were down 14 percent to $13.26. BofA Merrill Lynch's Ross Gilardi downgraded the rating on Joy Global from Neutral to Underperform.

was down, falling 13 percent to $3.66. NQ Mobile reported Q3 adjusted earnings of $0.01 per ADS on sales of $87.9 million.

In commodity news, oil traded up 0.05 percent to $41.67, while gold traded up 0.16 percent to $1,067.00. Silver traded up 0.13 percent Tuesday to $14.11, while copper rose 1.22 percent to $2.07.

European shares closed mostly lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 0.31 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index slipped 0.07 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index dipped 0.60 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX declined 1.06 percent, and the French CAC 40 slipped 0.87 percent, while U.K. shares rose 0.62 percent.

The final reading of the Markit manufacturing PMI rose to 52.80 in November, versus a flash reading of 52.60. US construction spending rose 1.00 percent in October, versus economists' expectations for a 0.50 percent growth. The ISM manufacturing index declined to 48.60 in November, versus a prior reading of 50.10. Economists were expecting a reading of 50.30.