Mid-Day Market Update: Dow Falls 50 Points; Smith & Wesson Shares Gain Following Strong Guidance

Midway through trading Tuesday, the Dow traded down 0.29 percent to 17,098.50 while the NASDAQ slipped 0.07 percent to 4,899.83. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.09 percent to 2,010.89.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Tuesday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Alimera Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: ALIM) and Concord Medical Services Hldg Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: CCM).

In trading on Tuesday, energy shares declined by 0.96 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Tidewater Inc. (NYSE: TDW), down 9 percent, and Unit Corporation (NYSE: UNT), down 8 percent.

Top Headline

Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) reported a drop in its earnings for its first quarter.

The company's quarterly net earnings slipped to $25.1 million, or $0.21 per share, compared to $32.2 million, or $0.27 per share, in the year-ago period. Earnings from continuing operations slipped to $0.22 per diluted share from $0.29 per diluted share.

Its net sales dropped to $1.2 billion from $1.7 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $0.22 per share on revenue of $1.36 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (NASDAQ: SWHC) shares shot up 12 percent to $26.10 as the company issued a stronger-than-expected third-quarter and fiscal-year 2016 guidance.

Shares of Solaredge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: SEDG) got a boost, shooting up 5 percent to $29.30. Goldman Sachs added SolarEdge Technologies to Conviction Buy list and raised the price target from $32.00 to $41.00.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) shares were also up, gaining 7 percent to $71.58. Goldman Sachs upgraded First Solar from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $61.00 to $100.00.

Equities Trading DOWN

MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD) shares dropped 30 percent to $1.02 on termination of Afrezza deal with Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE: SNY). The company is reviewing strategic options for Afrezza as a result of termination.

Shares of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET) were down 12 percent to $3.18. Deutsche Bank downgraded Republic Airways from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $8.00 to $4.00.

Akebia Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: AKBA) was down, falling around 11 percent to $11.16 following announcement of public offering, corporate and clinical developments. The company announced it plans on offering and selling $75 million worth of its common stock in a public offering.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.98 percent to $36.40, while gold traded up 0.17 percent to $1,077.00.

Silver traded up 0.97 percent Monday to $13.98, while copper rose 0.58 percent to $2.09.

Eurozone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 surged 0.68 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index gained 0.37 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index rose 0.94 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.46 percent, and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.37 percent, while U.K. shares rose 0.78 percent.

Economics

The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index declined 0.3 percent in December versus November.