Mixed Open As Oil Prices Rise

On the upside 

The Food and Drug Administration will allow Dynavax (Nasdaq: DVAX) to continue drug trials of its hepatitis B vaccine.

J. P. Morgan upgraded United Airlines parent UAL (Nasdaq: UAUA) .

Skyworks (Nasdaq: SWKS) lifted its fourth quarter guidance citing improving demand.

On the downside

Photronics (Nasdaq: PLAB) announced that it will sell $50 million in senior convertible notes in order to pay down debt.

Navistar International (NYSE: NAV) swung to a third quarter loss that fell far short of expectations and cut its full year outlook.

Monsanto (NYSE: MON) will eliminate approximately 8 percent of its staff, a deeper cut than originally announced. 

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks lost 2 points to 583.