A 0.2% gain in new home sales lifted the markets during the midday with the Dow climbing 70 points to 16,748. Nasdaq gained 9 points to 4,462.
On the upside
Gigamon (NYSE: GIMO) fell to a loss for the third quarter but the results were better than expected.
SodaStream International (Nasdaq: SODA) will test market some PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) products.
BJ's Restaurants (Nasdaq: BJRI) reported sharply higher third quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations.
On the downside
Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) disappointed with lower first quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations.
First Niagara Falls (Nasdaq: FNFG) fell to a loss for the third quarter and cut its current quarter outlook.
Layne Christensen (Nasdaq: LAYN) warned of losses for the third quarter.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 10 to 9 on the NYSE while decliners barely edged out advancers by a slim margin on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 6 points to 1957. Bitcoin added $2 to $358.
Gain in new home sales boosts markets
October 24, 2014 at 14:18 PM EDT