Today's Market Winners and Losers

The stock markets losing streak may soon be snapped. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 1.21%, the Nasdaq is up 0.98% and the S&P 500 is up 1.13%. Today’s big winner was a life insurance company getting bought out. One big loser was a for-profit education firm struggling with accredidation, while a shipping company is selling off more of its common stock.

Here are today’s market winners and losers.

Biggest Winner

Shares of Presidential Life (NASDAQ: PLFE) are up 36.88% to $13.88 on trading volume of 1.5 million shares. Athene Holding will acquire the life insurance holding company for about $415 million, or $14 a share, the companies announced Friday. Before Friday, the 52-week high was $12.21.

Biggest Losers

Shares of Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI) are down 24.06% to $9.85 on trading volume of 2.8 million shares. The Higher Learning Commission, which is responsible for accrediting universities such as Bridepoint’s Ashford Univerisity, has requested a report from the company showing it is complying with the commission’s standards. The report is due in August. Before Friday, the 52-week low was $12.80.

Shares of Box Ships (NYSE: TEU) are down 17.90% to $6.66 on trading volume of 2.7 million shares. The shipping company plans to sell $30 million of its shares in a public offering, the company announced Thursday. The 52-week low is $6.44.

Samuel Weigley