MW: Pioneer Natural Resources top gainer in S&P 500
By Steve Gelsi
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. PXD +2.47% rose 2.2% to $93.85 as the top performer among S&P 500 SPX -0.85% components on Wednesday morning. The company owns 310,000 acres in the Eagle Ford shale, where Marathon Oil MRO -1.87% announced a $3.5 billion acquisition from an entity owned by KKR KKR +0.06% and Hilcorp. On its web site, Pioneer Natural said the Eagle Ford of south Texas, "is quickly becoming one of the hottest shale plays in North America."
