Sempra Energy, Merck, Barclays, Qwest Communications among big market movers Tuesday

Sempra Energy, Merck, Barclays are big movers

NEW YORK — Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:

NYSE

Sempra Energy, down 48 cents at $49

The Royal Bank of Scotland is selling its Sempra joint venture to J.P. Morgan, and Sempra expects about $940 million from the deal.

Merck & Co., up 74 cents at $37.66

The drugmaker’s purchase of Schering-Plough Corp. gave a big boost to its quarterly sales and profit, but it issued no 2010 guidance.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., up $1.40 at $35.25

The teen retailer’s quarterly profit dropped 31 percent, but it expects overseas growth to help drive profit margins higher.

Terra Industries Inc., up $7.44 at $40.69

Norwegian fertilizer company Yara International has agreed to acquire the U.S. fertilizer maker for $4.1 billion in cash.

Barclays plc, up $2.35 at $19.03

The British bank that bought assets from failed U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers posted big gains in its fourth-quarter profit.

Qwest Communications International Inc., up 2 cents at $4.45

The nation’s fourth-largest traditional phone company said earnings fell as customers disconnected landline phones.

DHT Maritime Inc., up 1 cent at $3.52

The oil tanker owner and operator said fourth-quarter profit fell 67.2 percent as the economic downturn dampened shipping demand.

NASDAQ:

Capella Education Co., up $6.41 at $76.96

The company’s 2010 guidance implied sales and earnings above expectations of Wall Street analysts.