Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Open Lower; Westlake Chemical To Purchase Axiall For $33/Share

Loading...
Loading...
Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded down 0.72 percent to 17,854.93 while the NASDAQ declined 1.03 percent to 4,907.73. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.82 percent to 2,098.18.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
On Friday, utilities shares slipped by just 0.3 percent. Top gainers in the sector included
Korea Electric Power Corporation (ADR)KEP
and
MGE Energy, Inc.MGEE
. In trading on Friday, financial shares tumbled by 1.4 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included
Genworth Financial IncGNW
, down 5 percent, and
Walter Investment Management CorpWAC
, down 6 percent.
Top HeadlineWestlake Chemical CorporationWLK
announced plans to acquire
Axiall CorpAXLL
for $33.00 per share in all-cash transaction. The transaction is likely to complete by the fourth quarter of 2016.
Equities Trading UP Sophiris Bio Inc SPHS
shares shot up 142 percent to $2.83 after the company reported successful results from Phase 2a trial of topsalvsin in localized prostate cancer. Shares of
Axiall CorpAXLL
got a boost, shooting up 25 percent to $32.33 after b>Westlake Chemical Corporation
Loading...
Loading...
WLK
announced plans to acquire Axiall for $33.00 per share in all-cash transaction.
Organovo Holdings IncONVO
shares were also up, gaining 11 percent to $3.17 following Q4 results. Organovo reported a Q4 loss of $0.09 per share on revenue of $0.5 million.
Equities Trading DOWN GigPeak IncGIG
shares dropped 18 percent to $2.14. GigPeak priced offering of 11.32 million shares of common stock at $2 per share. Shares of
Mattress Firm Holding CorpMFRM
were down 17 percent to $27.85 as the company reported a wider-than-expected loss for its first quarter and lowered its annual outlook.
Gevo, Inc.GEVO
was down, falling around 33 percent to $0.470. Gevo priced 21.08 million shares at $0.45 per share.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.80 percent to $49.65 while gold traded up 0.15 percent to $1,274.60. Silver traded up 0.39 percent Friday to $17.34, while copper fell 0.17 percent to $2.04.
Eurozone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 2.28 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 2.64 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index slipped 2.82 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX declined 2.47 percent, and the French CAC 40 fell 2.09 percent, while U.K. shares fell 2.04 percent.
Economics
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index slipped to 94.30 in June, versus a prior reading of 94.70. Economists were expecting a reading of 94.00. The Federal Budget report for May will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Loading...
Loading...
Date
ticker
name
Actual EPS
EPS Surprise
Actual Rev
Rev Surprise
Posted In: EarningsNewsEurozoneCommoditiesOfferingsM&AGlobalIntraday UpdateMarketsMoversMid-Morning Market Update
We simplify the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Loading...