Government shutdown fears sent the markets tumbling to a sharply lower open with the Dow plunging 102 points to 15,156. Nasdaq dropped 17 points to 3764.

On the upside

Vista Equity Partners will take Active Network (NYSE: ACTV) private for a premium of approximately $904.8 million.

Brookfield Property Partners (NYSE: BPY) will make a tender offer for Brookfield Office Properties (NYSE: BPO) of $19.34 per share in cash.

A Seeking Alpha contributor expects sales of Galena Biopharma’s (Nasdaq: GALE) cancer pain treatment Abstral will exceed expectations.

On the downside

The Food and Drug Administration maintained a clinical hold on Achillion Pharmaceuticals’ (Nasdaq: ACHN) hepatitis C treatment sovaprevir.

Credit Suisse lowered its price target on Arena Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ARNA) from $5 to $4.

Profit taking weighed down shares of Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (Nasdaq: CPRX).  

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 6 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 4 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 fell 9 points to 1682.