The U.S. market closed Tuesday's trading on a volatile note amidst mixed economic news. Consumer confidence surged to an eight-month high, but home prices dropped in major cities.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.02 percent or 2.27 points to close at 12,291.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 0.01 percent or 0.11 points to close at 1,265.44. The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. composite index added 0.25 percent or 6.56 points to close at 2,625.20.
Hot Stocks of the Day: CSC, END, COP, GILD, WLB, CVX, SHLD
Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC) shares fell 9.14 percent, or $2.43, to close at $24.04 as the company warned it might have to write down its $1.5 billion investment in its contract with the U.K. National Health Service.
Endeavour International Corp. (NYSE: END) has agreed to buy a stake in three oil fields from ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) for $330 million. Shares of END jumped 25.47 percent, or $1.59, to close at $8. Shares of COP added 0.86 percent, or $0.62, to close at $73.05.
Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review a new drug application for the Quad, a complete regimen for treating HIV that's contained in a single tablet. Shares of GILD gained 1.43 percent, or $0.56, to close at $39.85.
Westmoreland Coal Co. (Nasdaq: WLB) said it's agreed to buy the Kemmerer mine in Wyoming from Chevron Mining Inc. (NYSE: CVX) for about $74 million in cash plus the assumption of some $118 million in liabilities. Shares of WLB rose 4.77 percent, or $0.59, to close at $12.96. Shares of CVX were up 0.71 percent, or $0.76, to close at $108.26.
Sears Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: SHLD) said it would close between 100 and 120 Sears and Kmart stores following poor sales during the holidays, the most crucial time of year for retailers.