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From Briefing.com: The broader market closed the session with slight losses across the board. Leading the way to the downside, the Nasdaq Composite shed 14.74 points (-0.29%) to close 5127.74. The S&P 500 was also weak today, lower by 2.38 points (-0.11%) to 2099.93. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rounded out the trio lower by 4.15 points (-0.02%) to 17863.43. The three major US indices all traded higher initially today, but edged lower about an hour into trading as the Biotechnology (IBB) sector pulled back. The back-to-back declines come ahead of the Employment Report for October which is scheduled to come out tomorrow morning.

Market data today came in the form of Initial claims data, which for the week ending October 31, increased 16,000 to 276,000 from an unrevised 260,000 the prior week. The preliminary third quarter productivity report showed nonfarm business productivity increased 1.6% quarter to quarter versus 3.5% in the second quarter.

The Technology (XLK 44.19, -10.13 -0.29%) sector finished the session slightly below flat lines. The sector began the session much like the broader market, in the green, before surrendering initial gains as the Biotech sector sold off an hour into trading. Notably weaker today in the sector were names like MU -5.33%, WIN -3.76%, AVGO -2.46%, MCHP -2.20%. Qualcomm (QCOM 51.07, -9.19 -15.25%) led the way lower today as the company reported a beat on the top and bottom lines of expectations for its Q4 period, but was dragged lower on tame Q1 guidance. Other sectors finished as follows XLF +0.41%, XLY +0.36%, XLI +0.13%, XLP -0.02%, XLV -0.32%, XLB -0.51%, IYZ -0.53%, XLE -0.85%, XLU -0.86%.

Notably weak today were Cybersecurity (HACK 26.75, -0.80 -2.90) names as FEYE and AVG both reported quarterly results. Other names which were dragged down by the weakness included GUID -17.04%, KEYW -7.10%, FTNT -5.10%, CYBR -4.55%, PANW -3.89%, SPLK -3.69%, CUDA -3.46%, WYY -2.39%, CHKP -2.39%, PFPT -1.31%

In the S&P 500 Information Technology sector (744.68, -2.38 -0.32%), action swung to the downside much like the broader market about an hour into trading. The sector saw names like QRVO -3.20%, PYPL -2.37%, CSC -1.62%, BRCM -1.32%, FFIV -1.27%, IBM -1.23%, RHT -1.19% all edge lower Thursday. Leading the way to the downside today was Teradata (TDC 25.58, -4.21 -14.13%) as the company reported mixed Q3 results. TDC saw in-line Q3 EPS of $0.55 on a miss on revenues of $606 million. The company also issued tame guidance for the FY15 period.

Other notable news items among sector components:

Computer Sciences (CSC 67.00, -1.10 -1.62%) announced Board approval for the spin-off of its Public Sector business and announced a special cash dividend of $10.50/share.

Autodesk (ADSK 63.49, +5.66 +9.79%) Sachem Head Capital Management disclosed a 5.7% active stake in a 13D filing; Sachem Head intends to engage with management.

Accenture (ACN 106.09, -0.43 -0.40%) is accelerating its research and development agenda in artificial intelligence across its global network of Accenture Technology Labs, by opening the newest lab in Dublin and committing a significant portion of its global R&D capabilities, to help clients across industries integrate intelligent systems to improve operations and create new growth opportunities.

Elsewhere in the technology space:

Virtusa (VRTU 52.02, -5.53 -9.61%) in addition to reporting quarterly results, agreed to acquire majority interest in Polaris Consulting & Services, Ltd. for about $270 million. The deal is estimated to be (-$0.08) dilutive to 4Q16 EPS and slightly dilutive FY 2017 EPS and accretive thereafter.

Castlight Health (CSLT 3.62, -1.68 -31.70%) in addition to reporting quarterly results, named John Doyle as Chief Operating Officer. CSLT also announced that it and Anthem (ANTM 136.04, +0.70 +0.52%), on behalf of itself and its affiliated companies have entered into a strategic arrangement whereby CSLT will power Anthem's transparency services and the companies will collaborate on sales efforts.

Iteris Holdings (ITI 2.53, +0.05 +2.02%) was awarded $8.9 million 511 traveler information contract by the San Francisco Bay area MTC.

Agilent (A 38.30, -0.04 -0.10%) announced a formal agreement with Thermo Fisher (TMO 134.95, -0.30 -0.22%) to exchange instrument controls to improve the productivity and user experience of customers using software and instruments from both companies.

CACI Intl (CACI 100.32, -0.26 -0.26%) received a $38.5 million task order to continue providing defense health readiness engineering support for the Theater Medical Information Program.

Plexus (PLXS 36.92, +1.05 +2.93%) announced its intention to close its Freemont, Ca manufacturing facility. The closing is expected to result in the separation of about 200 employees.

Cellcom Israel (CEL 7.16, -0.36 -4.79%) acquired Golan Telecom for ?1.17 billion.

RealNetworks (RNWK 4.42, +0.03 +0.68%) disclosed it has commenced the elimination of about 60 positions worldwide (10% workforce).

First Data (FDC 16.31, +0.17 +1.05%) announced an offering of $1.5 billion of senior secured notes due 2024.

Travelport Worldwide (TVPT 14.03, -0.49 -3.37%) upsized an announced offering by the company and selling shareholders. The offering is for 850K (unchanged) shares being offered by the company, and 9.15 million (upsized from 5.15 million) shares by selling shareholders.

NXP Semi (NXPI 79.50, -0.48 -0.60%) announced that its $2.7 billion Senior Secured Term Loan Facility- used for its acquisition of Freescale- will have a 2020 maturity and be priced at Libor +3%.

AVG Tech (AVG 20.26, -3.82 -15.86%) in addition to reporting quarterly results, announced that John Little will transition from his role as Chief Financial Officer.

ACI Worldwide (ACIW 23.35, -0.89 -3.67%) agreed to acquire eCommerce payment company, PAY.ON for cash and stock valuing the company at 180 million.

Rocket Fuel (FUEL 4.19, -0.80 -16.03%) appointed Randy Wootton as CEO.

iPass (IPAS 1.01, +0.03 +3.06%) announced the approval for a $3 million share repurchase program.

In reaction to quarterly earnings:

GoDaddy (GDDY 32.41, +4.98 +18.16%) reported Q3 EPS of ($0.04) on revenues which rose 15.2% year-over-year to $411.1 million. The company saw bookings increase 14.1% to $475.6 million.

Mitel Networks (MITL 8.80, +1.15 +15.03%) reported Q3 EPS and revenues which beat expectations; EPS was $0.12 for the period, and revenues rose 7.2% year-over-year to $290.7 million. The company also guided Q4 EPS better than expected at $0.22-0.27, issued in-line revenues guidance for Q4 of $315-340 million.

Qualcomm (QCOM) reported Q4 beat on the top and bottom lines. EPS was $0.91 and revenues were $5.46 billion for the period. The company also guided Q1 EPS worse than expected at $0.80-0.90 and revenues in-line at $5.2-6.0 billion.

Facebook (FB) reported Q3 EPS and revenues which beat expectations; EPS was $0.57 and revenues were $4.5 billion. Daily active users were 1.01 billion, Mobile DAUs were 894 million. The company also guided for FY15 non-GAAP expense growth of about 50%. Also sees CapEx of $2.5-2.7 billion for the period.

BCE Inc (BCE 56.45, +0.15 +0.27%) reported Q3 EPS which was better than expected at CC$0.93 and revenues which were in-line at CC$5.34 billion. Also guided FY15 EPS C$3.28-3.38 (unchanged).

Telus (TU 31.83, -1.43 -4.30%) reported Q3 EPS which beat expectations at CC$0.66 on revenues which were in-line at CC$3.15 billion. The company also reaffirmed FY15 EPS guidance of C$2.40-2.60. Also, TU announced additional restructuring and the reduction of about 1,500 positions.

Castlight Health (CSLT) reported Q3 loss per share of ($0.17) on revenues of $19.5 million. The company also issued guidance for the Q4 period with EPS expectations at ($0.17)-($0.16) and revenues of $20.7-21.0 million.

FireEye (FEYE 22.46, -6.66 -22.87%) reported Q3 EPS of a loss per share of ($0.37) on revenues of $165.6 million. The company also issued upside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of ($0.38)-($0.36) on gross billings of $240-260 million.

Virtusa (VRTU) reported Q2 EPS which beat expectations at $0.50 on revenues of $143 million (up 21.5% year-over-year). The company also guided Q3 EPS of $0.54-0.56 and revenues of $150-153 million. Also, VRTU sees FY16 EPS of $2.15-2.21 on revenues of $584.6-591.6 million.

Stocks reporting after tonight's close/before tomorrow's open: AMBR AAOI ANET ABTL AVNW RATE WIFI BRKS CALD ECOM CTCT CSOD CYBR DMD DIOD ELON EXAR FICO FXCM GSAT GLOB GLUU INAP KTOS MTD MSCC MITK MFLX UEPS NEWR EGOV NVDA PCTY PXLW PLT PRO QRVO QUMU SREV SWIR SWKS SLH DATA TTWO TRMR TRUE TCX UBNT OLED VRNS WK YUME/EBIX SATS IMN

Analyst actions:

INXN was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup,
EIGI was upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer,
HDP was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Sun Trust Rbsn Humphrey;
KING was downgraded at Stifel and Wedbush,
FEYE was downgraded at BofA/Merrill, Wells Fargo and FBR Capital,
LPSN was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Craig Hallum,
NMRX was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Sidoti,
CSLT was downgraded to Mkt Perform from Outperform at Leerink Partners,
AVG was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight JP Morgan,
ORCL was downgraded to Mkt Perform from Outperform at FBR Capital,
SPNS was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at ROTH Capital,
CSGS was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at First Analysis Sec

5:21 pm Novatel Wireless reports Q3 results; issues outlook (MIFI):

Novatel Wireless prelim Q3 ($0.04) vs ($0.05) two analyst estimate; revs +23% YoY to $54.6 mln vs $56.28 mln two analyst estimate.Novatel Wireless sees Combined Company Q4 ($0.08)-($0.05) vs $0.00 two analyst estimate; sees revs $66-72 mln vs $76.36 mln two analyst estimate.

5:06 pm Sierra Wireless misses by $0.03, misses on revs; guidesQ4 EPS below consensus, revs below consensus (SWIR):

Reports Q3 (Sep) earnings of $0.23 per share, $0.03 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.26; revenues rose 7.9% year/year to $154.6 mln vs the $159.02 mln Capital IQ Consensus.Co issues downside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $0.09-0.11 vs. $0.30 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q4 revs of $148-151 mln vs. $165.63 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.

4:41 pm Skyworks reports EPS in-line, revs in-line; guides Q1EPS above consensus, revs above consensus (SWKS):

Reports Q4 (Sep) adj earnings of $1.52 per share, excluding non-recurring items, in-line with the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.52; revenues rose 22.6% year/year to $880.8 mln vs the $879.08 mln Capital IQ Consensus.Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $1.60 vs. $1.56 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q1 revs of $925-930 mln vs. $921.43 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Co sees non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 51%

4:32 pm Qualcomm and Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.sign 3G/4G Chinese patent license agreement (QCOM):

QCOM has granted Huizhou a royalty bearing patent license tomanufacture and sell certain sub units.

The royalties payable by TCL are consistent with the terms of the rectification plan submitted by Qualcomm to China's National Reform and Development Commission.

4:29 pm Exar reports EPS in-line, revs in-line; guides Q3 EPSin-line, revs in-line; guides FY16 EPS above consensus, revsin-line (EXAR):

Reports Q2 (Sep) earnings of $0.06 per share, excluding non-recurring items, in-line with the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.06; revenues fell 14.1% year/year to $37.2 mln vs the $36.99 mln Capital IQ Consensus.Co issues in-line EPS guidance for Q3, sees EPS of $0.06-0.08, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.06 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees upside Q3 revs guidance, sees guidance flat to up 3%, which equates to ~$38.3 mln vs. $37.68 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.Co issues guidance for FY16, sees EPS of $0.30-0.34, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.28 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees FY16 revs of $153-156 mln vs. $153.94 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.

4:24 pm NVIDIA beats by $0.11, beats on revs; guides Q4 revsabove consensus (NVDA):

Reports Q3 (Oct) earnings of $0.46 per share, $0.11 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.35; revenues rose 6.5% year/year to $1.3 bln vs the $1.18 bln Capital IQ Consensus.Co issues upside guidance for Q4, sees Q4 revs of $1.30 bln (+/- 2%) vs. $1.21 bln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.Announces 18% increase in quarterly dividend to $0.115 from $0.0975 per share.

4:15 pm Pericom Semi: Montage Technology Group Limited files aninvestor presentation with the SEC relating to its offer to acquirePericom; underscores financing certainty and lack of regulatoryrisk (PSEM):


4:05 pm Brooks Automation agrees to acquire BioStorageTechnologies for $127 mln in cash; expects it to become accretiveto Co's non-GAAP earnings within the first half of fiscal 2016 (BRKS):


4:04 pm Microsemi reports EPS in-line, revs in-line; guides Q1EPS in-line, revs below consensus (MSCC):

Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $0.73 per share, excluding non-recurring items, in-line with the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.73; revenues rose 8.4% year/year to $328.8 mln vs the $327.46 mln Capital IQ Consensus.Co issues guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.70-0.74, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.72 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q1 revs of $325-329 mln vs. $323.69 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.

12:06 pm Stocks/ETFs that traded to new 52 week highs/lows thissession - New lows (113) outpacing new highs (104) (SCANX): Stocks that traded to 52 week highs: ABCD, ACXM, ADBE, AMZN, ATVI, AVNU, AWAY, AZO, BABY, BECN, BNCN,BOCH, BOKF, BWXT, BYD, CBF, CBU, CCRN, CHE, CHFC, COHR, CONE, CORE,CPS, CSFL, CSGS, CTRP, CUBI, CYTK, DEA, DHR, DMND, DRAD, DY, EBAY,EVBN, EXPE, EXTR, FB, FFG, FOXF, FRBA, FULT, G, GCI, GDEN, GNCMA,GOOG, GOOGL, HA, HUBS, IBOC, IM, INGR, IRMD, ISLE, JKHY, LFUS,LNCE, MATR, MATX, MPWR, MXL, NAZ, NFBK, NHC, NILE, NOW, NP, NTI,NYRT, OME, ONFC, PAR, PAYC, PCBK, PCLN, PDCE, PEGA, PLUS, PNQI,RHT, RIVR, RNR, SHOR, STL, SVBI, TPX, TSO, UBOH, UFPI, USCR, V, VC,VLO, VLY, VRSN, WCN, WDFC, WSFS, WST, WTR, XUE, YCB

Stocks that traded to 52 week lows: AHGP, AMFW, ARC, ARPI, ATRS, AVP, BEP, BIOL, BNTC, CBMX, CCO,CIDM, CKH, CNAT, CNL, CPST, CREG, CROX, CSLT, CVA, DAVE, DIN, EAT,EMMS, ENBL, ENOC, ENVA, ERA, ETRM, EVAR, EVGN, EVTC, EXAM, FARO,FC, FDEU, FEYE, FREE, FUEL, GI, GNK, GNRT, GPOR, GSI, GSL, GYRO,HAIN, HCP, HDP, HMHC, JYNT, KFS, KND, LADR, LBY, LCI, LIQD, LLEX,LPSN, MITT, MNKD, MOSY, MYRG, NM, NMRX, NRX, NSH, NSM, NTK, OESX,OPGN, ORN, PDLI, PEIX, PHI, PPP, PRCP, PSIX, PSO, QCOM, RGLD, RLOC,ROKA, SALT, SBAC, SBLK, SCX, SEMG, SGM, SJT, SMMT, SPAR, SYRX, TDC,TDW, TGD, TIME, TPH, TUMI, TWIN, UNXL, URG, UUUU, VRX, WAB, WAC,WFM, WILN, WING, WMC, WPT, WRK, WSCI

ETFs that traded to 52 week highs: FDN, IGV, XLK,

ETFs that traded to 52 week lows: COW, DBB, EPOL,