24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell — October 8, 2012: Markets Open Lower, Can't Overcome Expected Weak Earnings (ALU, LNKD, BBBY, HMC, BLK, DNN, AA, YUM, VRNG, REGI, GDOT, WMT, AXP, TPCG)

Vringo Inc. (NYSEMKT: VRNG) is up 19.1% at $5.41 after posting a new 52-week high of $5.57 earlier today. The intellectual property firm has filed a patent infringement suit against the U.K. subsidiary of Chinese handset maker ZTE.

Renewable Energy Group Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) is down 21.6% at $5.58. The biodiesel maker cut its third quarter earnings guidance sharply today.

Green Dot Corp. (NYSE: GDOT) is down 19.5% at $10.35. The pre-paid credit card issuer is being threatened by a new agreement between its largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), and American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) to launch a new pre-paid card. More coverage here.

TPC Group Inc. (NASDAQ: TPCG) is up 12.3% at $45.69. The chemicals company has received a competing offer as it seeks to sell itself. More coverage here.

Stay tuned for Tuesday. We have also noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

7:30 a.m. - National Federation of Independent Businesses small business optimism index7:45 a.m. - ICSC-Goldman store sales11:30 a.m. - 3- and 6-month bill auctions1:00 p.m. - 3-year note auction

Paul Ausick