On the upside
Semitool (Nasdaq: SMTL) received a $364 million all-cash acquisition offer from Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT).
China-based mobile phone maker Zoom Technologies (Nasdaq: ZOOM) posted quarterly revenues that tripled and solid earnings.
Assured Guaranty (NYSE: AGO) reported a quarterly loss, but operating income was in the black. Management offered an upbeat outlook for its municipal bond insurance business.
On the downside
Home Depot (NYSE: HD), the nation's largest home improvement retail chain, posted better than expected earnings, but revenues continued to fall due to a weak housing market.
Target (NYSE: TGT) reported higher 3rd quarter earnings and expected discounts to draw holiday foot traffic, but at the expense of profit margins.
Shares of Pacific Sunwear of California (Nasdaq: PSUN) tumbled after the outdoor apparel retailer posted lower revenues and a larger quarterly loss.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 2 to 1 on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks slipped a point to 600.