Mid-Day Market Update: Markets Steady, Express Falls On Weak Outlook

Midway through trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.01 percent to 14,452.05 while the NASDAQ gained 0.01 percent to 3,242.76. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.05 percent to 1,553.32. Index Technicals:
The S&P seems to have found support at 1,550 yesterday with overhead resistance set at 1,556.50, and lower support at 1,540. The Dow looks poised to take out 14,400, which will turn into a new support level as the index finds resistance at 14,450. The NASAQ looks to find support at 3,223.00, while it finds resistance at 3,253 and lower support at 3,215. Finally, the Russell looks to be trading between 943 and 940, with lower support set at 930. Top Headline
Yesterday, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals SPPI issued downbeat sales forecast. Spectrum expected sales of its drug Fusilev in the range of $10 million to $15 million for the first quarter and $80 million to $90 million for the year. It projected 2013 total revenue in the range of $160 million to $180 million, versus analysts' estimates of $290.8 million. Equities Trading UP
National Financial Partners NFP shot up 12.47 percent to $22.55 after company said that it is exploring a possible sale. Shares of Prudential plc PUK got a boost, shooting up 8.93 percent to $33.46 after the company's indirect wholly owned subsidiary Jackson reported record IFRS net income of $992.0 million for 2012. VMware VMW was also up, gaining 7.84 percent to $81.19 after the company projects to lift its annual revenue growth. EMC and VMware also announced their plans to set up a new company, Pivotal. Equities Trading DOWN
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals SPPI shares tumbled 35.15 percent to $8.06 after the company issued downbeat sales forecast. Express EXPR was also down, falling 8.41 percent to $17.26 after the company issued weak view. Shares of MEMC Electronic Materials WFR were down 10.85 percent to $4.84 after the company announced its plans to change its name to SunEdison and projects its 2013 semiconductor sales to increase as much as 7.8%. Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.21 percent to $92.73, while gold traded down 0.35 percent to $1,586.20. Silver traded down 0.96 percent Wednesday to $28.89, while copper fell 0.69 percent to $3.53. Euro zone
European shares were mostly lower on some weak earnings from companies such as Inditex and rumors of a secondary offering to fill a capital shortfall at Commerzbank. French Non-Farm Payrolls fell 0.3 percent in February, below expectations of a drop of 0.2 percent in the month which would have been a flat reading month-over-month. The Spanish Ibex Index tumbled 0.54 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index dropped 1.60 percent. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.11 percent, London's FTSE 100 Index fell 0.61 percent, French CAC 40 Index declined 0.07 percent and German DAX 30 index rose 0.12 percent. Economics
US retail sales rose 1.1% in February, beating analysts' expectations for a 0.7% increase. US import price index climbed 1.1% in February, surpassing analysts' expectations for a 0.5% gain. The MBA Mortgage Applications declined 4.7% in the latest week ended March 8. US business inventories rose 1% to $1.64 trillion in January. Crude supplies increased 2.6 million barrels for the latest week ended March 8. However, analysts were expecting a 2.3 million-barrel rise. The Treasury is set to auction 10-year notes.