Mid-Day Market Update: Blount International Surges On Acquisition News; Men's Wearhouse Shares Slide

Midway through trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.70 percent to 17,614.30 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.49 percent to 5,047.56. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.36 percent to 2,054.92.Leading and Lagging SectorsIn trading on Thursday, energy shares rose by 0.87 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX), up 13 percent, and NGL Energy Partners LP (NYSE: NGL), up 10 percent. Utilities shares tumbled by 0.84 percent in the US market on Thursday. Top losers in the sector included CPFL Energia S.A. (ADR) (NYSE: CPL), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ADR) (NYSE: ELP), and Black Hills Corp (NYSE: BKH).Top Headline Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) reported better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter, but the company issued a weak revenue forecast.The company reported adjusted earnings of $0.42 per share on revenue of $692 million. However, analysts were expecting a profit of $0.38 per share on revenue of $683.56 million.For the first quarter, Ciena expects revenue of $555 million to $590 million, versus analysts' expectations of $636.61 million.Equities Trading UP Blount International Inc (NYSE: BLT) shares shot up 85 percent to $9.95 after the company agreed to be acquired for $10.00 per share in cash. Shares of LoJack Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN) got a boost, shooting up 45 percent to $5.05 after CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ: CAMP) offered to acquire LoJack for $5.50 per share in cash. American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC) shares were also up, gaining 10 percent to $4.24 after the company raised its outlook for the third quarter.Equities Trading DOWN Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE: MEI) shares tumbled 14 percent to $29.36. Methode Electronics reported downbeat Q2 revenue and lowered its FY16 forecast. Shares of Men's Wearhouse Inc (NYSE: MW) were down 23 percent to $14.09. Men's Wearhouse reported in-line loss for the third quarter, but the company's revenue missed analysts' estimates. Comparable sales slipped 14.6 percent at Jos. A. Bank. Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) was down, falling 17 percent to $19.90. Ciena reported better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter, but the company issued a weak revenue forecast.CommoditiesIn commodity news, oil traded down 0.65 percent to $36.92, while gold traded down 0.39 percent to $1,072.30. Silver traded down 0.27 percent Thursday to $14.15, while copper rose 0.24 percent to $2.07.EurozoneEuropean shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 0.01 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index declined 0.41 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index dipped 0.12 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.58 percent, and the French CAC 40 surged 0.34 percent, while U.K. shares fell 0.35 percent.EconomicsUS jobless claims surged by 13,000 to 282,000 in the week ended December 5. However, economists were expecting initial claims to rise to 269,000.US import prices slipped 0.4 percent in November, while export prices declined 0.6 percent in November.Supplies of natural gas declined 76 billion cubic feet for the week ended December 4, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. However, analysts were projecting a drop of 59 billion cubic feet to 63 billion cubic feet.