Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Dicks Sporting Goods Slips On Earnings Miss; Airgas Shares Spike Higher

Toward the end of trading Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.08 percent to 17,497.15 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.06 percent to 4,987.79. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.06 percent to 2,051.90.

In trading on Tuesday, healthcare shares rose by 0.62 percent. Top gainers in the sector included

, up 6 percent, and

, up 7 percent. Utilities shares dipped by 1.30 percent in Tuesday's trading. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included

, down 10 percent, and

, off 5 percent.

reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter on Tuesday. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company posted quarterly net earnings of $3.3 billion, or $1.03 per share, compared to $3.71 billion, or $1.15 per share, in the year-ago period. The latest quarter earnings benefited by around $0.04 per share from an adjustment for certain leases. Its total revenue slipped to $117.41 billion from $119 billion. Excluding the impact of foreign currency movements, Wal-Mart's total revenue climbed 2.8 percent to $122.4 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.98 per share on revenue of $117.79 billion.

shares shot up 4 percent to $125.76 after the company reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter. Shares of

got a boost, shooting up 18 percent to $20.10 after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter.

shares were also up, gaining 29 percent to $137.46 after Air Liquide reached a deal to acquire AirGas for $143 per share in cash.

shares tumbled 22 percent to $10.91. Brean Capital downgraded Osiris Therapeutics from Hold to Sell, while establishing a price target of $8. Shares of

were down 12 percent to $35.92 after the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the third quarter and issued a weak forecast.

was down, falling 7 percent to $12.49 after the company announced its plans to acquire several key assets from Rdio for $75 million.

In commodity news, oil traded down 2.16 percent to $40.84, while gold traded down 1.28 percent to $1,069.70. Silver traded down 0.40 percent Tuesday to $14.17, while copper fell 0.73 percent to $2.11.

European shares closed higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 rose 2.49 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index gained 2.36 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index climbed 2.28 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 2.41 percent, and the French CAC 40 jumped 2.77 percent, while U.K. shares rose 1.99 percent.

The consumer price index increased 0.2 percent in October, versus economists' expectations for a 0.2 percent growth. US industrial production slipped 0.2 percent in October, versus economists' expectations for a 0.1 percent drop. The NAHB housing market index declined to a reading of 62 in November. However, economists were expecting a reading of 64 for the month.