Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Mostly Flat; Time Warner Beats Q3 Views

Following the market opening Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.02 percent to 17,921.56 while the NASDAQ declined 0.05 percent to 5,142.76. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.07 percent to 2,108.25.

In trading on Wednesday, utilities shares jumped by 0.46 percent. Top gainers in the sector included

, up 6 percent, and

, up 7 percent. Healthcare shares declined around 0.40 percent in Wednesday's trading. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included

, down 14 percent, and

, off 14 percent.

reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the third quarter on Wednesday. The New York-based company posted quarterly net income of $1.04 billion, or $1.26 per share, compared to $967 million, or $1.11 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding non-recurring items, the company's adjusted earnings came in at $1.25 per share. Its revenue surged to $6.56 billion from $6.24 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue of $6.51 billion.

shares shot up 21 percent to $18.72 after the company reported upbeat Q3 earnings. Shares of

got a boost, shooting up 20 percent to $15.80 on better-than-expected Q3 earnings.

shares were also up, gaining 14 percent to $44.69 on strong Q3 results.

shares tumbled 31 percent to $2.79. Groupon reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter, but the company's sales missed analysts' estimates. The company also issued a weak forecast for the current quarter. Shares of

were down 27 percent to $25.68. FARO Tech reported a Q3 loss of $0.05 per share on revenue of $72.5 million. The company also announced plans to reduce workforce by 8 percent.

was down, falling 21 percent to $6.07 after the company reported weaker-than-expected Q3 results and lowered its FY15 forecast.

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.40 percent to $47.71, while gold traded up 0.42 percent to $1,118.80. Silver traded up 0.30 percent Wednesday to $15.29, while copper rose 1.12 percent to $2.36.

European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 climbed 0.98 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.33 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index surged 0.36 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX fell 0.17 percent, and the French CAC 40 gained 0.95 percent, while U.K. shares rose 1.02 percent.

Private-sector employers added 182,000 jobs in October. However, economists were expecting a gain of 180,000 jobs last month. The U.S. trade deficit declined 15 percent to $40.8 billion in September, versus a revised $48 billion in August. Exports climbed 1.6 percent to $187.9 billion in the month, while imports shrank 1.8 percent to $228.7 billion. The Markit services PMI gained to 54.80 in October, versus a previous reading of 54.40. The ISM non-manufacturing index climbed to 59.10 in October, versus a prior reading of 56.90. However, economists were expecting a reading of 56.50.