Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Open Lower; Tyco To Sell South Korean Security Business For $1.93B

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded down 0.95 percent to 16,166.97 while the NASDAQ tumbled 0.99 percent to 4,265.39. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.86 percent to 1,843.43.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
Energy shares declined by just 0.08 percent in Monday's trading. However, top gainers in the sector included PrimeEnergy PNRG and Dresser-Rand Group DRC. In trading on Monday, financial shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.07 percent.

Among the financial stocks, Ashford Hospitality Trust AHT was down more than 5.7 percent, while The Central Europe, Russia and Turkey Fund CEE tumbled around 5 percent.

Top Headline
Tyco International TYC announced its plans to sell its South Korean security business to The Carlyle Group CG for around $1.93 billion. Tyco now projects Q2 earnings from continuing operations of $0.39 to $0.41 per share, versus its earlier forecast of $0.44 to $0.46 per share. However, analysts expected earnings of $0.46 per share. Tyco's board also authorized an additional share buyback program of $1.75 billion.

Equities Trading UP
Dendreon DNDN shot up 12.57 percent to $3.24 after the company posted better-than-expected Q4 results and announced its plans to make PROVENGE available in Europe.

Shares of Tyco International TYC got a boost, shooting up 1.25 percent to $42.71 after the company announced its plans to sell its South Korean security business to The Carlyle Group CG for around $1.93 billion.

Magna International MGA was also up, gaining 2.75 percent to $91.57 after the company reported a 31% rise in its fourth-quarter profit and lifted its dividend.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Akorn AKRX were down 12.28 percent to $22.65 after the company reported Q4 results and issued a weak FY14 guidance.

Magellan Health Services MGLN shares tumbled 2.93 percent to $59.35 after the company reported a 50% drop in its fourth-quarter earnings.

Darden Restaurants DRI was down, falling 3.15 percent to $49.45 after the company issued a downbeat profit forecast.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 1.81 percent to $104.45, while gold traded up 1.97 percent to $1,347.60.

Silver traded up 1.17 percent Monday to $21.49, while copper fell 0.67 percent to $3.17.

Eurozone
European shares were lower today.

The Spanish Ibex Index fell 2.35 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index tumbled 2.37 percent.

Meanwhile, the German DAX slipped 2.96 percent and the French CAC 40 fell 2.34 percent while U.K. shares declined 1.73 percent.

Economics
US consumer spending climbed 0.4% in January, while personal income rose 0.3%. However, economists were expecting a 0.1% rise in consumer spending and a 0.2% gain in income.

The final reading of Markit's PMI rose to 57.10 for February, versus economists' expectations for a reading of 56.70.

The ISM manufacturing PMI rose to 53.20 in February, versus a prior reading of 51.30. However, economists were expecting a reading of 52.30. US construction spending rose 0.10% in January, versus economists' expectations for a 0.50% decline.

The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills.