The markets opened higher with the Dow adding 7 points to 23,597 as first time applications for unemployment benefits fell. Nasdaq rose 7 points to 6,869.
On the upside
Needham & Co. initiated coverage of Nutanix (Nasdaq: NTNX) at a Buy rating and a $45 price target.
Bargain hunters lifted shares of Vipshop (NYSE: VIPS).
Shares of Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG) climbed as bargain hunters snapped up deals.
On the downside
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) chief executive Meg Whitman announced that she will step down from her role in February 2018.
HP (NYSE: HPQ) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue but the stock price fell on news of the retirement of Hewlett Packard Enterprise chief executive Meg Whitman.
Investors locked in profits on Square (NYSE: SQ).
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 2 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added a point to 2,600. Bitcoin soared $238 to $8,216.
