Closing Bell: When a loss is a win (GE, PALM, POT, NKE, MU)

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is opening a new R&D center that will employ 1,100 workers in Michigan. This might not sound like much, but it is expansion for those looking for evidence of green shoots. Shares were down 0.6% at $11.77 late in the day.

Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) posted a pretty wide loss, but narrower than estimates. Palm Pre unit shipments sent shares on the rise. Shares were up over 17% at 15.50 late in the day.

Potash Corp./Saskatchewan, Inc. (NYSE: POT) issued a bad earnings warning. The stock did not sell off as much as many would have guessed. Amazingly, shares were down less than 1% at just under $93.00 late in the trading day.

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) was hit with day-two of bad news. Today's post-earnings news was a downgrade from Argus Research to Hold from Buy in analyst coverage. Shares were down about 1% at $50.75 late in the trading day.

Micron Technology Inc. (NYSE: MU) has more issues as the DRAM leader posted a wider loss on lower sales, making two straight years worth of losses. The saving grace was that its gross margin turned positive for the first time in almost a year. Shares were down almost 4% at $5.10 late in the trading day.