The Standard & Poor 500 was down by about 20 points, around a 1.5% drop, to under 1,270 Thursday as higher-than-expected jobless claims and the possible default by Greece and other countries dragged down financial markets in early trading.

Up by almost 20% was biotech SeraCare Life Sciences (NASDAQ: SRLS), to about $4.10 per share on a buyout offer from MSMB Capital Management at $4.25 per share. The year high for SeraCare is $4.97. Volume is running more than nine times the average for SeraCare in early trading.

Also up strong, more than 5% to over $29 per share, was Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) on heavy volume. Eliquis, the anticlotting drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb, was reported by analysts to work better than the competition.

AutoChina International (NASDAQ: AUTC) gained more than 7% in early trading, going over $30 per share. While Chinese stocks have taken a beating recently, AutoChina International is now trading well above its 52-week low of $19.78.

Down more than 20% to about $3.20 was Flow International (NASDAQ: FLOW). Financial results recently reported by Flow were disappointing. The year high for Flow International is $4.72, with the low at $2.03.

The Bank of Kentucky (NASDAQ: BKYF), a strong financial services company, was down about 7%. A regional serving Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Bank of Kentucky was down more than $1.70 in early trading. At about $23.70, Bank of Kentucky still is well above its year low of $14.98.

Falling more than 10%, more than $6 per share, was TreeHouse Foods (NYSE: THS). TreeHouse announced earnings would suffer from higher transportation, packaging and commodity costs. At around $52.60, TreeHouse Foods is up from the opening price today of $50.68.  It closed yesterday at $58.50.

Jonathan Yates does not any stock in any of these companies mentioned in the article.