Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Dow Rises 150 Points; Zeltiq Aesthetics Shares Surge Following Acquisition News

Toward the end of trading Monday, the Dow traded up 0.76 percent to 20,423.25 while the NASDAQ gained 0.57 percent to 5,766.58. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.56 percent to 2,329.09.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Basic materials shares climbed by 1.29 percent in trading on Monday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Vale SA (ADR) VALE, and Intrepid Potash, Inc. IPI.

In trading on Monday, telecommunications services shares fell by 0.39 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included NQ Mobile Inc (ADR) NQ, down 6 percent, and 8x8, Inc. EGHT, down 3 percent.

Top Headline

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) TEVA reported better-than-expected results for its fourth quarter, driven by the acquisition of Actavis Generics business. The company also reaffirmed its 2017 outlook, which also came in above consensus expectations.

Teva posted Q4 earnings of $1.38 per share on revenue of $6.49 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.35 per share on revenue of $6.25 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Zosano Pharma Corp ZSAN shares shot up 69 percent to $2.03 after the company disclosed that M207 has achieved both co-primary endpoints in ZOTRIP pivotal efficacy migrane trial.

Shares of Sino-Global Shipping America, Ltd. SINO got a boost, shooting up 60 percent to $4.34. Sino-Global reported Q2 earnings of $0.11 per share on revenue of $2.129 million.

Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc ZLTQ shares were also up, gaining 14 percent to $56.09. Allergan plc AGN announced plans to acquire Zeltiq Aesthetics for $2.47 billion.

Equities Trading DOWN

Hain Celestial Group Inc HAIN shares dropped 10 percent to $34.72 after the company announced a SEC subpoena seeking documents related to delayed filing.

Shares of X T L Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ADR) XTLB were down around 10 percent to $2.70. XTL Biopharmaceuticals disclosed that it has expanded its clinical advisory board to support Phase II trial of HCDR1 in Sjogren's syndrome.

Knoll Inc KNL was down, falling around 14 percent to $23.24. Knoll Inc. on Friday posted Q4 earnings of $21.4 million on revenue of $292.9 million.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 1.76 percent to $52.91 while gold traded down 0.65 percent to $1,227.90.

Silver traded down 0.52 percent Monday to $17.84, while copper rose 0.70 percent to $2.79.

Eurozone

European shares closed higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 rose 0.75 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.13 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index surged 1.07 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX climbed 0.92 percent, and the French CAC 40 rose 1.24 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.28 percent.

Economics

On the economics calendar Monday, there is no important data due out.