Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Drop; Sempra Energy To Acquire Oncor

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded down 0.26 percent to 21,618.80 while the NASDAQ declined 0.42 percent to 6,190.68. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.21 percent to 2,420.50.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Monday morning, the non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares climbed by 0.45 percent.

In trading on Monday, technology shares fell by 0.46 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Canadian Solar Inc. CSIW, down 4 percent, and Immersion Corporation IMMR down 4 percent.

Top Headline

Sempra Energy SRE announced plans to acquire Oncor for $9.45 billion in cash.

Sempra Energy projects the deal to complete in the first half of 2018.

Equities Trading UP

Coherus Biosciences Inc CHRS shares shot up 15 percent to $12.71 after the company announced plans to raise up to $150 million in a private placement.

Shares of NACCO Industries, Inc. NC got a boost, shooting up 14 percent to $75.40. NACCO Industries disclosed that its subsidiary Hamilton Beach Brands has filed to trade as an independent company. The company announced the retirement of its CEO following Hamilton Beach Brands spin off.

Herbalife Ltd. HLF shares were also up, gaining 9 percent to $67.71 after the company said it has begun a modified Dutch auction self-tender offer to acquire up to $600 million worth of its stock.

Equities Trading DOWN

Francesca's Holdings Corp FRAN shares dropped 14 percent to $6.85. Francesca’s reported the departure of Laurie Hummel, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer. The company reported preliminary Q2 earnings of $0.20 per share.

Shares of CARDIOME PHARMA CORP CRME were down 32 percent to $2.64 after the company issued U.S. regulatory update for BRINAVESS. The FDA advised Cardiome that the data package proposed is not sufficient to support re-submission of the BRINAVESS NDA.

Digital Ally, Inc. DGLY was down, falling around 10 percent to $3.03. Digital Ally priced 1 million shares equity offering at $3 per share.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 0.25 percent to $48.63 while gold traded up 0.19 percent to $1,294.00.

Silver traded up 0.29 percent Monday to $17.05, while copper rose 0.93 percent to $2.989.

Eurozone

European shares were mostly lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 dropped 0.09 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.13 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index declined 0.38 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX dropped 0.36 percent, and the French CAC 40 slipped 0.34 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.04 percent.

Economics

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index dropped to -0.01 in July, versus prior reading of 0.13.

The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills at 11:30 a.m. ET.