U.S. shares pared earlier losses to trade flat today, though news about a potential bailout deal for Greece continued to weigh in the background. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) skidded 0.2 percent to 2,119.12 at 11:50 a.m. in New York. The 30-company Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) slipped 0.3 percent to 18,082.91, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) fell 0.2 percent to 5,151.96. Most followed shares included Netflix, Lennar, Monsanto, Ford Motor, GM, Catalyst Pharma, DaVita HealthCare, Alcobra, Boeing, and McCormick.
In technology stocks, Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) rose 1.1 percent to $688.82, a day after the the world's largest subscription streaming service’s board approved a seven-for-one stock split. Netflix's shares have almost doubled this year.
In consumer shares, Lennar (NYSE:LEN) gained 3.7 percent to $50.83 after the second-largest U.S. homebuilder reported a better-than-expected 33 percent jump in quarterly profit as it sold more homes at higher prices.
Monsanto (NYSE:MON) fell 4.6 percent to $107.64 after the provider of agricultural said it expects fourth-quarter results to break even, while analysts most recently forecast earnings of $0.31.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) was up 2.3 percent at $15.65 after the company said it will test new car-sharing programs with U.S. and U.K. partners as part of a strategy to embrace alternatives to traditional car ownership. Separately, Goldman Sachs analysts upgraded the stock to “buy” from “neutral.”
General Motors (NYSE:GM) slipped 2.4 percent after Goldman Sachs cut the car maker to neutral from buy.
In health-care shares, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CPRX) advanced 6.8 percent to $4.26 after reporting positive results from a small, early-stage study of its drug to treat Tourette’s disorder.
DaVita HealthCare Partners (NYSE:DVA) slipped 0.9 percent to $80.86. The Denver, Colorado-based company has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in connection with how the company codes diagnoses for Medicare Advantage patients.
Alcobra (NASDAQ:ADHD) slumped 11 percent to $7.50 after the Israel-based Biopharmaceutical company said a Phase 2 clinical trial of a treatment for Fragile X Syndrome, a cognitive disorder, didn’t meet its primary endpoint.
In other stocks, Boeing (NYSE:BA) fluctuated after the aerospace company said Dennis Muilenburg will replace Jim McNerney as its chief executive officer. McNerney will continue to serve as Boeing’s chairman.
McCormick (NYSE:MKC) added 2.1 percent to $81.97 after agreeing to buy Texas-based One World Foods, seller of Stubb’s barbecue sauces, for $100 million in cash in a bid to expand its grilling products.