A better than expected increase in existing home sales lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 50 points to 17,030. Nasdaq added 2 points to 4524.

On the upside

EveryWare Global (Nasdaq: EVRY) will sell its United Kingdom business to HUK 54 Limited.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPJ) reported lower third quarter earnings but revenue rose to top analyst estimates.

Shares of China Finance Online (Nasdaq: JRJC) climbed for the fourth day in a row.

On the downside

58.com (NYSE: WUBA) reported sharply higher second quarter earnings and revenue but the company forecast current quarter revenue below analyst expectations.

Kindred Biosciences (Nasdaq: KIN) reported disappointing results from a study of CereKin to treat dogs with osteoarthritis.

Sears Holdings (Nasdaq: SHLD) widened second quarter losses as revenue fell.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 8 to 5 on the NYSE while decliners were on par with advancers on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added 3 points to 1989. Bitcoin rose $16 to $523.