A drop in consumer sentiment weighed the markets down during the midday with the Dow losing 36 points to 14,502. Nasdaq slipped 6 points to 3252.

On the upside

Research Driven Investing wrote that Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) will benefit from rising imports of coal in China. 

Rosetta Resources (Nasdaq: ROSE) will pay approximately $768 million to acquire Comstock Resources’ (NYSE: CRK) Permian Basin property in Texas.

Progenics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PGNX) narrowed fourth quarter losses more than expected as revenue surged.

On the downside

Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter and warned of losses for the current quarter.

Shares of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) extended its losses after warning of lower solar prices on Wednesday.

3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) co-founder and chief technology officer Charles Hull sold more than half his stake in the 3D printer company.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index slipped 2 points to 1560.