The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow soaring 182 points to 17,857 as crude oil prices continued to rise. Nasdaq leaped 65 points to 4,865.
On the upside
Bridgeline Digital's (Nasdaq: BLIN) iAPPS Digital Engagement Platform was selected to power the law and business education system of a global software and services firm.
The Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track designation to Fate Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FATE) for its ProTmune to reduce the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease.
Rising crude oil prices lifted shares of Stone Energy (NYSE: SGY).
On the downside
Mizuho downgraded Eagle Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: EGRX) from a Buy rating to a Neutral rating.
Cypress Semiconductor (Nasdaq: CY) announced plans to offer $250 million in convertible senior notes.
Morgan Stanley downgraded CVS (NYSE: CVS) from an Overweight rating to an Equal Weight rating.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 soared 20 points to 2,091. Bitcoin tumbled $16 to $729.