11:43 AM EST, 12/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Trading was mixed on Monday morning, with the Nasdaq Composite up 0.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.4% as the market kicks off a holiday-shortened week.

In company news, Nordstrom ( JWN ) said Monday it agreed to be taken private by members of the founding Nordstrom ( JWN ) family and Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool in a deal valued at $6.25 billion. Nordstrom ( JWN ) shares were down 1.5% near noon.

Honda Motor ( HMC ) and Nissan Motor said Monday they have signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss the possibility of a merger and the creation of a joint holding company. The companies are aiming for combined sales of 30 trillion Japanese yen ($191.62 billion) and an operating profit of more than 3 trillion yen. Based on the proposed schedule for the combination, the companies said they expect to executive a definitive agreement by June 2025. Honda ( HMC ) shares were up 10.3%.

Xerox Holdings ( XRX ) said Monday it has agreed to acquire Lexmark International from Ninestar, PAG Asia Capital and Shanghai Shouda Investment Center for $1.5 billion, including assumed liabilities. Xerox shares were up 6.2%.

MetLife ( MET ) unit MetLife Investment Management said Monday it has agreed to acquire PineBridge Investments from Pacific Century Group in a deal valued at up to $1.2 billion. The deal, slated to close in 2025, excludes PineBridge's private equity funds business and its Chinese joint venture, MetLife Investment said. MetLife ( MET ) shares were 0.1% higher.

Lithium Americas ( LAC ) said Monday it closed its joint venture with General Motors ( GM ) to fund, develop and operate the Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada. The project will supply battery-quality lithium carbonate for North America's critical minerals supply chain, Lithium Americas ( LAC ) said. Shares of General Motors ( GM ) were up 0.1%, while those of Lithium Americas ( LAC ) were up 5.9%.

Price: 8.93, Change: +0.54, Percent Change: +6.38