First time applications for unemployment benefits rose more than expected but the numbers were in line with pre-recession levels. The markets advanced during the midday with the Dow gaining 50 points to 16,702 while Nasdaq rose 13 points to 4447.
On the upside
USEC (NYSE: USU) narrowed losses for the second quarter.
Vertex Energy (Nasdaq: VTNR) impressed with sharply higher second quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations.
NewLink Genetics (Nasdaq: NLNK) will soon begin human trials for its Ebola vaccine.
On the downside
Second quarter earnings unexpectedly dropped for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (Nasdaq: RRGB) to miss expectations by a wide margin.
K12 (NYSE: LRN) reported sharply higher fourth quarter earnings but the company failed to provide guidance for fiscal 2015.
Aspen Technology (Nasdaq: AZPN) reported higher second quarter earnings and revenue but growth of its total license contract value slowed.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 2 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 6 points to 1953. Bitcoin eased $1 to $539.
