Markets Flat As Factory Orders Rise Less Than Expected

The markets traded near the flatline with Dow adding a point to 10,270 as factory orders rose less than expected in July. Nasdaq gained 10 points to 2187.

On the upside

Sycamore Networks (Nasdaq: SCMR) swung to a fourth quarter profit as revenue rose.

Compellent (NYSE: CML) created a cloud computing environment for Heineken Netherlands to increase performance and improve storage efficiency for IT applications.

Saks (NYSE: SKS) reported a 1% increase in same store sales.

On the downside

FuelCell Energy (Nasdaq: FCEL) narrowed third quarter losses but revenue dropped.

Methode Electronics (NYSE: MEI) reversed year ago losses to post a profit for the first quarter but the company remained cautious about performance in the next few quarters.

One of Mariner Energy's (NYSE: ME) oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico exploded.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks edged up a point to 626.