NEW YORK - Celgene Corp. helped pull the Nasdaq 100 index higher in midday trading Thursday after the biopharmaceutical company's buyout of a rival passed federal muster. The index, which includes 100 of the largest nonfinancial securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, rose 5.37 points to 2,055.08 in midday trading. The broader Nasdaq composite added 5.26 points to 2,614.89. Celgene gained $2.73, or 5.9 percent, to $49.03. A waiting period imposed by the Federal Trade Commission has passed, meaning Celgene can move forward with its $2.9 billion buyout of Pharmion Corp., the company said Thursday. Apollo Group Inc., an education company that operates the University of Phoenix, added $3.98, or 5.9 percent, to $71.77. Construction company Foster Wheeler Ltd. rose $5.75, or 3.5 percent, to $167.28, after hitting a 52-week high of $168.74 earlier in trading. On the losing side, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. shed $1.75, or 7.7 percent, to $21.40, after hitting a 52-week low of $20.71. A Wachovia analyst downgraded the company to "Underperform" from "Market Perform" on Thursday, saying new tests may delay the launch of hepatitis C drug candidate telaprevir. Monster Worldwide Inc., which runs Monster.com, lost $2.30, or 7.3 percent, to $29.33. The company said Thursday that its employment index fell 14 percent in December due to seasonal trends. And Starbucks Corp. lost 66 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $18.65. Shares of the coffee chain hit a 52-week low of $18.58 earlier in trading. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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