Upbeat jobs and housing data boosted the markets to a sharply higher close with the Dow surging 135 points to 12,287. Nasdaq climbed 23 points to 2613.

On the upside

Motley Fool wrote that 2012 will be make-it year for Cell Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CTIC).

Ivanhoe Energy (Nasdaq: IVAN) produced a video that explains its proprietary heavy oil upgrading process.

A jump in pending home sales lifted shares of KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH) and Masco (NYSE: MAS).

On the downside

Sequans Communications (NYSE: SQNS) will release fourth quarter results on Thursday, February 9, 2012 before market open.

A Seeking Alpha contributor wrote yesterday that StoneMor Partners' (NYSE: STON) distributions were unsustainable.

China Sky One Medical (Nasdaq: CSKI) announced the resignation of chief financial officer and treasurer Pan Hong-yu.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 7 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 2 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks gained 9 points to 744.