Mid-Day Market Update: FMC Slips On Weak Outlook; Integrys Energy Shares Surge

Midway through trading Monday, the Dow traded down 0.19 percent to 16,915.55 while the NASDAQ declined 0.01 percent to 4,367.74. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.08 percent to 1,961.27.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Monday morning, the basic materials sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from AK Steel Holding AKS and Thompson Creek Metals Company TC.

Telecommunications services shares fell around 0.65 percent in trading on Monday. Top losers in the sector included NQ Mobile NQ, down 4 percent, and ORBCOMM ORBC, off 5 percent.

Top Headline

Oracle ORCL announced its plans to buy Micros Systems MCRS in a $5.3 billion deal.

The offer price of $68 per share represents a 3.4% premium over Micros' closing price on Friday.

Equities Trading UP

Integrys Energy Group TEG shares shot up 12.90 percent to $68.81 after Wisconsin Energy WEC announced its plans to acquire Integrys Energy Group in a deal valued at $9.1 billion.

Shares of Central Garden & Pet Company CENT got a boost, shooting up 9.22 percent to $9.83 after Harbinger Group offered to buy Central Garden & Pet Co for $10 per share.

MICROS Systems MCRS shares were also up, gaining 3.36 percent to $67.98 after Oracle ORCL announced its plans to buy MICROS for $68 per share.

Equities Trading DOWN

Shares of Meritor MTOR were 12.47 percent to $12.77 after the company reached a $500 million settlement with Eaton ETN related to an anti-trust suit filed in 2006. The company’s board also authorized a repurchase of up to $210 million.

Ixia XXIA shares tumbled 1.68 percent to $11.67 after the company reported its Q4 earnings of $0.15 per share on revenue of $120.60 million. Ixia now expected Q1 sales of $109.0 million to $113.0 million.

FMC FMC was down, falling 3.65 percent to $72.02 after the company lowered its FY14 earnings forecast and issued a weak Q2 outlook.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.77 percent to $106.01, while gold traded up 0.02 percent to $1,316.90.

Silver traded down 0.26 percent Monday to $20.94, while copper rose 0.90 percent to $3.14.

Euro zone

European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.51 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 0.33 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index fell 1.33 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX declined 0.66 percent and the French CAC 40 dropped 0.57 percent while UK shares slipped 0.36 percent.

Economics

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to 0.21 in May, versus economists’ expectations for a reading of 0.20.

The flash reading of Markit PMI manufacturing index rose to a reading of 57.5 in June versus a reading of 56.4 in May. However, economists were expecting a reading of 56.0.

Sales of existing homes rose 4.9% to an annual rate of 4.89 million in May. However, economists were estimating a sales rate of 4.74 million.