Markets Mixed At Midday As Unemployment Rate Climbs

The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow slipping 18 points to 11,343 as the nation's unemployment rate posted an surprise gain. Nasdaq rose 5 points to 2585.

On the upside

Speculation that Microvision (Nasdaq: MVIS) technology may be incorporated into Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone 5 lifted shares of the miniature display and imaging company. 

Gentex (Nasdaq: GNTX) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11 cents per share payable on January 21, 2011 to shareholders of record January 6, 2011.

VeriFone Systems (NYSE: PAY) reversed year ago losses to post a better than expected profit for the fourth quarter as revenue climbed.

On the downside

Morgan Stanley downgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG). 

Vector Group (NYSE: VGR) completed its private placement of $90 million in senior secured notes.

Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY) disappointed with lower fourth quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 10 to 9 on the NYSE while advancers were on par with decliners on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a point to 752.