Stocks Open Mixed on Hints of a Job Recovery
On the upside
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) posted a profit due to a one-time payment from the settlement of a lawsuit with rivals.
An analyst upgraded Atheros Communications (Nasdaq: ATHR), a chip maker pursuing the mobile market.
Shares of Sallie Mae (NYSE: SLM) soared after the company won a 5-year government loan-servicing contract.
On the downside
Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO) posted sharply lower revenues and a loss as tight credit made it harder for consumers to buy its recreational vehicles.
NBC Universal announced plans to use online ad sales software provided by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). NBC Universal is owned by General Electric (NYSE: GE).
Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) announced the sale of 15 million shares raising funds to pay down debt.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 2 to 1 on the NYSE and by a margin of more than 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks lost 4 points to 502.
