Midday Leaders and Laggards: Nasdaq 100

The index, which includes 100 of the largest nonfinancial securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, gained 11.72 points to 1,830.90 in midday trading. The broader Nasdaq composite added 9.94 points to 2,244.83.

Shares of Activision Blizzard Inc. jumped $2.08, or 6.9 percent, to $32.15.

Shares of Virgin Media Inc. rose 49 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $11.93. The company said Thursday it has appointed three independent nonexecutive directors to its board.

Shares of engineering and construction firm Foster Wheeler Ltd. increased $2.61, or 4.3 percent, to $63.84. Rival Shaw Group Inc. posted a better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Thursday.

On the declining side, shares of casino and resort operator Wynn Resorts Ltd. lost $6.34, or 8.2 percent, to $71.22. Earlier in the session, the stock touched a 52-week low of $70.61.

Shares of Ryanair Holdings PLC slipped 58 cents, or 2 percent, to $27.82 as crude prices rose on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Shares of United Airlines parent UAL Corp. fell 9 cents, or 2 percent, to $4.32.