Unexpected Drop In Unemployment Rate

On the upside

Marvell Technology (Nasdaq: MRVL) reported sharply higher third quarter earnings that topped analyst estimates as revenue surged.

Third quarter earnings for Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) more than doubled in the third quarter prompting the closeout retailer to boost its fourth quarter outlook.

FBR Capital Markets analyst upgraded Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV) saying that the stock price has plunged 61% over the last three months.

On the downside

Take-Two Interactive Software (Nasdaq: TTWO) cut its forecast for the third and fourth quarters and warned of greater than expected losses for the full year prompting downgrades.

While Smith & Wesson (Nasdaq: SWHC) reversed year ago losses to post a second quarter profit, the gun maker forecast third quarter sales below expectations.

An appeals court ruled that more environmental analysis must be conducted at the site of Barrick Gold's (NYSE: ABX) Cortez Hills project.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 6 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks surged 15 points to 604.