The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow climbing 81 points to 15,217 as investors awaited the beginning of second quarter earnings season after market close. Nasdaq held steady at 3479.

On the upside

Motley Fool wrote that Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) was a potential long term investment . 

JMP Securities initiated coverage of Santarus (Nasdaq: SNTS) with an Outperform rating and a $27 price target. 

News that the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia would begin exporting copper lifted shares of Turquoise Hill Resources (Nasdaq: TRQ).

On the downside

Barron’s warned investors to have realistic expectations for Noodles & Co. (Nasdaq: NDLS) while Wedbush initiated coverage of the fast casual restaurant chain with a Neutral rating.

Natus Medical (Nasdaq: BABY) warned that second quarter revenue would fall short of expectations.

USEC (NYSE: USU) extended its losses.   

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 2 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index gained 8 points to 1640.