The markets closed higher with the Dow gaining 77 points to 18,223 as investors welcomed merger and acquisition news. Nasdaq leaped 52 points to 5,309.
On the upside
Bargain hunters lifted shares of Real Goods Solar (Nasdaq: RGSE).
Acco Brands (NYSE: ACCO) reported better than expected earnings for the third quarter.
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M715 Tiny and ThinkPad E475 and E575 featuring Advanced Micro Devices' (Nasdaq: AMD) AMD PRO APUs were introduced at the Canalys Channels Forum.
On the downside
The Food and Drug Administration placed a clinical hold on Inovio Pharmaceuticals' (Nasdaq: INO) Phase III program for VGX-3100.
Third quarter earnings plunged for Boise Cascade (NYSE: BCC).
Shares of Stone Energy (NYSE: SGY) extended its losses.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 7 to 5 on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 climbed 10 points 2,151. Bitcoin slipped $1 to $650.
