The markets extended its gains during the midday with the Dow soaring 89 points to 11,760 after the Federal Reserve reported that the nation ended 2010 with a stronger economy. Nasdaq climbed 18 points to 2735.
On the upside
The Food and Drug Administration determined that Strategic Diagnostics' (Nasdaq: SDIX) RapidChek SELECT Salmonella Enteritidis test system was equivalent to current standard methods for pooled egg testing without a 96-hour hold period.
Cinco Dias reported that Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) will raise approximately $300 million through the sale of a 1.91% stake in its Chilean business.
The Wet Seal (NYSE: WTSLA) hired former American Eagle Outfitters (Nasdaq: AEO) executive Susan P. McGalla to be the women's apparel retailer's new chief executive.
Lululemon Athletica (Nasdaq: LULU) cited better than expected revenue for lifting its fourth quarter outlook above analyst estimates.
Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR) settled claims related to work on Boeing's (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner airliner.
Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) won a $1.5 billion settlement from Intel (NYSE: INTC) in a patent infringement dispute.