Bargain hunters lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 47 points to 18,133. Nasdaq climbed 24 points to 5,150.
On the upside
Horizon Pharma (Nasdaq: HZNP) offered a premium of approximately $800 million in cash to acquire Raptor Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: RPTP).
Bargain hunters lifted shares of Advanced Micro Devices (Nasdaq: AMD).
Wunderlich upgraded Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) from a Hold rating to a Buy rating and lifted its price target from $6 to $10.
On the downside
Geron (Nasdaq: GERN) discontinued the 4.7 mg/kg dose arm and suspended enrollment in the 9.4 mg/kg dose arm of imetelstat in a Phase 2 clinical trial.
An independent data monitoring committee completed its review of Amarin's (Nasdaq: AMRN) REDUCE-IT cardiovascular outcomes study and recommended no modifications.
Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) cut its full year earnings and revenue forecast.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 4 to 3 on the NYSE and by 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 5 points to 2,133. Bitcoin added $2 to $605.
