Jobless Claims Fall Less Than Expected, Markets Open Mixed

The markets opened mixed with the Dow rising 20 points to 12,370 while Nasdaq eased a fraction to 2776. Initial applications for unemployment benefits fell less than expected.

On the upside

China Energy invested $83.8 million in Synthesis Energy Systems (Nasdaq: SYMX).

Morgan Stanley upgraded Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) to an Overweight rating with a price target of $70.

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation will invest $700,000 in Prana Biotechnology (Nasdaq: PRAN) to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of PBT2 in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

On the downside

Horizon Lines (NYSE: HRZ) denied reports that it was selling its assets but did say that it was exploring creative options to restructure finances.

Kahn Swick & Foti and Bernstein Liebhard both launched investigations into Advanced Battery Technologies (Nasdaq: ABAT) for misleading investors.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is investigating Las Vegas Sands' (NYSE: LVS) Macau unit for possible regulatory breaches.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a slim margin on the NYSE and by more than 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks eased a point to 838.