Investor optimism lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 21 points to 22,892 . Nasdaq rose 17 points to 6,622.

On the upside

The Food and Drug Administration granted priority review to Exelixis (Nasdaq: EXEL) for its Cabometyx to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Sohu.com (Nasdaq: SOHU) will report third quarter results before the U.S. market opens on Friday, October 27, 2017.

Rising copper prices lifted shares of Hudbay Minerals (NYSE: HBM) and Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX).

On the downside

Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) suspended its efforts to take the company private.

Shares of PG&E (NYSE: PCG) extended its losses.

Nordea Investment Management sold 4,988 shares of Macom Technology Solutions (Nasdaq: MTSI).

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added 2 points to 2,555. Bitcoin soared $127 to $5,679.