The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow slipping 12 points to 17,038 even as commodities prices advanced. Nasdaq rose 8 points to 4,817.

On the upside

Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL) settled with the Justice Department by paying a fine of $10 million.

Rising zinc prices lifted shares of Horsehead (Nasdaq: ZINC).

SolarWinds (NYSE: SWI) retained the services of J.P. Morgan and DLA Piper to review strategic alternatives.

On the downside

Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI) cut its first quarter revenue guidance.

Ruby Tuesday (NYSE: RT) fell to a greater than expected loss for the first quarter.

The Department of Defense has temporarily prohibited Apollo Education Group’s (Nasdaq: APOL) University of Phoenix from recruiting at military bases.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 10 to 9 on the NYSE and by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 lost 3 points to 2,009. Bitcoin added $1 to $243.