Lower open on slipping crude oil prices

The markets opened lower with the Dow losing 10 points to 18,075 as crude oil prices slipped. Nasdaq held steady at 5,210.

On the upside

Exelixis (Nasdaq: EXEL) reported positive results from a Phase 3 study of cabozantinib to treat patients with metatastic renal cell carcinoma.

SunEdison (Nasdaq: SUNE) will pay a premium of approximately $2.2 billion to acquire Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR).

Shares of Genetic Technologies (Nasdaq: GENE) extended its gains.

On the downside

New Jersey's Division of Purchase and Property, Procurement Bureau will award a Third Party Liability Services contract to a competitor of HMS Holdings (Nasdaq: HMSY).

Fourth quarter earnings and revenue rose for Cal-Maine Foods (Nasdaq: CALM) but the results fell short of analyst expectations.

Profit taking weighed down shares of Etsy (Nasdaq: ETSY).

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 2124. Bitcoin added $3 to $275.