National Oilwell Varco Inc. was the biggest gainer on the Standard & Poor's 500 index Thursday as oil prices held steady, nudging the index higher at midday.
The S&P 500 rose 5.14 to 1,397.71.
Shares of oil driller National Oilwell Varco rose $4.59, or 6.7 percent, to $73.47 as crude prices wobbled on the Nymex but drifted little from their fresh all-time high Wednesday just shy of $124 a barrel. Light, sweet crude for June delivery slipped 12 cents to $123.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Manitowoc Co. Inc. shares gained $1.84, or 4.8 percent, to $40.25 as investors awaited the diversified industrial company's response to a $2 billion bid from rival Illinois Tool Works Inc. for British restaurant equipment manufacturer Enodis PLC.
Last month, Enodis agreed to be acquired for less by Manitowoc.
Shares of oil driller Rowan Cos. Inc. jumped $1.64, or 4.3 percent, to $40.30.
Among the decliners, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. plunged $11.35, or 22.9 percent, to $38.30 after posting a first-quarter profit that missed Wall Street estimates and lowering its full-year outlook.
Shares of Dillard's Inc. sank $1.16, or 5.8 percent, to $18.97. On Thursday, the department store chain said its same-store sales fell 4 percent in April, missing analyst estimates.
Shares of Tesoro Corp. slid $1.13, or 4.6 percent, to $23.55 as a Deutsche Bank analyst slashed his target price and said oil refiners are facing the toughest environment since Sept. 11, 2001.
Terms & Conditions
RSS Headlines
Fool UK