Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Edge Lower; Microsoft To Acquire LinkedIn For $26 Billion

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded down 0.11 percent to 17,845.17 while the NASDAQ declined 0.14 percent to 4,887.86. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.06 percent to 2,094.83. Leading and Lagging Sectors On Monday, healthcare shares rose by 0.1 percent. Top gainers in the sector included MediciNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNOV) and Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL). In trading on Monday, telecommunications services shares tumbled by 0.9 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL), down 9 percent, and B Communications Ltd (NASDAQ: BCOM), down 5 percent. Top Headline Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced Monday morning it has reached an agreement to acquire LinkedIn Corp for $196 per share, or $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn's net cash.As part of the agreement, Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn and will report directly to Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella. The transaction has already been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both companies and is expected to close by the end of 2016.Equities Trading UP Eleven Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: EBIO) shares shot up 65 percent to $3.09 after the company reported announced the signing of exclusive license agreement with Roche covering IL-6 antagonist antibody. The company also reported that that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of EBI-031 for ocular diseases.Shares of LinkedIn Corp (NYSE: LNKD) got a boost, shooting up 48 percent to $193.34 after Microsoft announced plans to acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share. Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (NASDAQ: SWHC) shares were also up, gaining 8 percent to $23.01 following Orlando shootings on Sunday. Gun stocks, including Smith & Wesson, rose as the shooting could result in a surge of gun sales to individuals looking to protect themselves.Equities Trading DOWN Marinus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: MRNS) shares dropped 69 percent to $1.64 as the company reported top-line results from Phase 3 trial in adult focal onset seizures. In this trial, ganaxolone did not meet the primary endpoint. Shares of BioScrip Inc (NASDAQ: BIOS) were down 15 percent to $2.40 as the company said it struck a deal to acquire HS Infusion Holdings Inc. in a synergistic, transformational and accretive transactions with considerable gains for all stake holders. The company also announced a proposed stock offering for HS Infusion acquisition. OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR) was down, falling around 10 percent to $6.99. Raymond James downgraded OraSure Technologies from Outperform to Market Perform.Commodities In commodity news, oil traded down 1.35 percent to $48.41 while gold traded up 0.90 percent to $1,287.40. Silver traded up 0.26 percent Monday to $17.38, while copper rose 0.71 percent to $2.05. Eurozone European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 1.75 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 2.07 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index slipped 2.95 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX declined 1.46 percent, and the French CAC 40 fell 1.60 percent, while U.K. shares fell 0.90 percent. Economics The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills.