Flat close on economic data

The markets closed flat with the Dow slipping 12 points to 16,272 as manufacturing activity expanded at a slower pace. Nasdaq rose 6 points to 4,627.

On the upside

Bargain hunters continued to snap up shares of Sequenom (Nasdaq: SQNM).

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Entertainment authorized Amaya (Nasdaq: AYA) to operate PokerStars and Full Tilt in New Jersey.

Bargain hunters lifted shares of OvaScience (Nasdaq: OVAS).

On the downside

Capital Southwest (Nasdaq: CSWC) completed the spinoff of CSW Industrials (Nasdaq: CSWI).

Shares of Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) continued falling.

Bloomberg reported that Brazil's Lower House approved costly retirement benefits sending shares of Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) lower.

In the broad market, declining issues barely edged out advancers by a slim margin on the NYSE while decliners outpaced advancers by 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 3 points to 1,923. Bitcoin added $1 to $237.