The markets opened lower with the Dow slipping 4 points to 24,723 in anticipation of a rate hike. Nasdaq lost 17 points to 7347.

On the upside

MuleSoft (NYSE: MULE) will be acquired by Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion.

Bargain hunters lifted shares of Twitter (NYSE: TWTR).

The Toronto Stock Exchange has accepted Enerplus' (NYSE: ERF) Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid.

On the downside

General Mills (NYSE: GIS) cut its full year forecast.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) cut its revenue per available seat mile forecast for the first quarter.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) warned that first quarter revenue would tumble by $550 million.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 2,714. Bitcoin climbed $84 to $9,074.