Mid-Day Market Update: US Markets Turn Lower; Twitter Shares Fall On Analyst Downgrade


Crypto Whales Are Loading Up — Are You?

New research shows the biggest crypto buyers are back. And this time? They could hold for the possibility that Bitcoin will surpass $100,000 in 2024. You don’t want to miss the next massive crypto bull run like we saw in 2020 and 2021. To know exactly what’s going on and what to buy… Get Access To Benzinga’s Best Crypto Research and Investments For Only $1.


Midway through trading Friday, the Dow traded down 0.02 percent to 16,477.38 while the NASDAQ declined 0.20 percent to 4,158.96. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.04 percent to 1,841.37.Top Headline

ENTER TO WIN $500 IN STOCK OR CRYPTO

Enter your email and you'll also get Benzinga's ultimate morning update AND a free $30 gift card and more!


Yesterday, Textron (NYSE: TXT) agreed to buy acquire Beechcraft for around $1.4 billion in cash. The deal is expected to close during the first half of 2014. In 2013, Beechcraft has around $1.8 billion in expected revenue. Equities Trading UP
Shares of Textron (NYSE: TXT) got a boost, shooting up 1.57 percent to $36.77 after the company agreed to buy acquire Beechcraft for around $1.4 billion in cash.Westlake Chemical (NYSE: WLK) shot up 2.14 percent to $120.83 after analysts at Susquehanna upgraded the stock from Neutral to Positive and lifted the target price from $118 to $145.Organovo Holdings (NYSE: ONVO) was also up, gaining 2.98 percent to $9.32. The rise in the shares may be attributed to Thursday's Computerworld Article on 3D printed liver coming in 2014.Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) were down 6.27 percent to $68.71 after Macquarie downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underperform.Textura (NYSE: TXTR) tumbled 6.15 percent to $29.38. Textura shares tumbled 17.06 percent yesterday after Citron Research issued a scathing report on the company midway through the morning Thursday. Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA) was down, falling 6.29 percent to $6.56. Ariad shares have dropped 63.95 percent over the past 52 weeks.Commodities

FREE REPORT: How To Learn Options Trading Fast

In this special report, you will learn the four best strategies for trading options, how to stay safe as a complete beginner, ​a 411% trade case study, PLUS how to access two new potential winning options trades starting today.Claim Your Free Report Here.



In commodity news, oil traded up 0.76 percent to $100.31, while gold traded up 0.14 percent to $1,214.00. Silver traded up 0.55 percent Friday to $20.03, while copper fell 0.26 percent to $3.39.Euro zone
European shares were higher today. The Spanish Ibex Index gained 0.82 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index climbed 1.39 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX surged 1.06 percent and the French CAC 40 jumped 1.40 percent while U.K. shares gained 0.85 percent. Economics
US crude oil inventories fell by 4.7 million barrels for the week ending December 20, the Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts were projecting a drop of 2.3 million barrels. Gasoline inventories dropped by 600,000 barrels, versus analysts' expectations for a 1.2 million barrels gain.

Crypto Whales Are Loading Up — Are You?

New research shows the biggest crypto buyers are back. And this time? They could hold for the possibility that Bitcoin will surpass $100,000 in 2024. You don’t want to miss the next massive crypto bull run like we saw in 2020 and 2021. To know exactly what’s going on and what to buy… Get Access To Benzinga’s Best Crypto Research and Investments For Only $1.


Posted In: EarningsNewsGuidanceEurozoneFuturesCommoditiesForexGlobalEcon #sEconomicsIntraday UpdateMarketsMoversTech