A disappointing 0.1% uptick in retail sales for January weighed the Dow down during the midday with the blue chip index falling 55 points to 13,962. Nasdaq rose 4 points to 3190.

On the upside

MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) narrowed fourth quarter losses more than expected.

Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq: RSOL) will provide solar solutions to new communities built by a leading homebuilder.

Second quarter earnings surged for Recon Technology (Nasdaq: RCON).

On the downside

EZchip Semiconductor (Nasdaq: EZCH) swung to a profit for the fourth quarter but revenue for the year dropped.

Bankrate (NYSE: RATE) disappointed with sharply lower fourth quarter earnings and revenue that fell short of expectations and forecast 2013 revenue well below analyst estimates.

Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) reversed year ago losses to post a better than expected profit for the fourth quarter but the company forecast current quarter earnings below expectations.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 9 to 7 on the NYSE while advancers barely edged out decliners by a slim margin on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index held steady at 1519.