Markets flat at midday

The markets traded near the flatline during the midday with the Dow adding 3 points to 18,056. Nasdaq rose 4 points to 4,811.

On the upside

Revolution Lighting Technologies (Nasdaq: RVLT) entered a strategic distribution partnership with Fastenal.

Eclipse Resources (NYSE: ECR) will raise approximately $440 million through a private placement.

Shares of General Motors (NYSE: GM) rose after Cars.com said that December auto sales should climb to an eight-year high as gas prices remain low.

On the downside

Investors locked in profits on Atossa Genetics (Nasdaq: ATOS).

Hanwha SolarOne (Nasdaq: HSOL) filed a shareholder circular with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to its acquisition of Hanwha Q CELLS Investment.

Slipping gold prices weighed down share of Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC).

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added 3 points to 2092. Bitcoin eased $1 to $313.