The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow gaining 51 points to 15,444 as the nation's unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped. Nasdaq edged up a point to 3921.

On the upside

Transocean (NYSE: RIG) will replace Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) on the S&P 500 after market close on Monday, October 28.

VMware (NYSE: VMW) reported sharply higher third quarter earnings that topped analyst estimates.

Bargain hunters lifted shares of Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (Nasdaq: CPRX).

On the downside

First quarter earnings slipped for Coach (NYSE: COH) as revenue fell to miss analyst estimates.

ITG Investment Research expects third quarter billings for Groupon (Nasdaq: GRPN) to drop.

RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) widened third quarter losses more than expected as revenue dropped.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 7 to 3 on the NYSE while advancers barely edged out decliners on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 7 points to 1752.