The markets closed flat with the Dow adding 2 points to 13,345 as cautious investors monitored earnings news. Nasdaq rose 11 points to 3016. On the upside
Stereotaxis (Nasdaq: STXS) appointed former Accuray president and chief executive Dr. Euan Thompson to its board. JMP Securities affirmed its Outperform rating on Ziopharm Oncology (Nasdaq: ZIOP). Toyota Industries will pay a premium of approximately $65 per share in cash to acquire Cascade (NYSE: CASC). On the downside The Food and Drug Administration received reports that Monster Beverage (Nasdaq: MNST) energy drinks were linked to five deaths. Finacity facilitated a $150 million securitization for Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW). Avid Technology (Nasdaq: AVID) warned of wider losses for the third quarter. In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 10 to 9 on the NYSE and while decliners barely edged out advancers by a slim margin on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks eased a fraction to 820.