On the upside
Same store sales for Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) surged 6.4% to top estimates prompting the discount retailer to lift its second quarter guidance.
TriNet Group will take Gevity HR (Nasdaq: GVHR) private in an all cash deal valued at approximately $98 million.
Although Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN) reported a larger than expected first quarter loss, cost cutting measures are expected to help the networking equipment maker break even.
On the downside
Although fourth quarter earnings rose to top estimates for Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB), the children's apparel retailer forecast first quarter results well below expectations.Alvarez & Marsal, which is liquidating Lehman Brothers' assets, questioned Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) about $3.3 billion it received from Lehman when it purchased part of the company last year.
American Airlines parent AMR (NYSE: AMR) said that February revenue passenger miles plunged 13.5% from last year.
In the broad market, declining issues overwhelmed advancers by a margin of 8 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks plummeted 15 points to 356.
