The markets opened sharply higher with the Dow soaring 108 points to 18,241 after Greece received an extension of its bailout last week. Nasdaq climbed 32 points to 4,995.
On the upside
NXP Semiconductors (Nasdaq: NXPI) will pay approximately $11.8 billion in cash and stock to acquire Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL).
Athersys (Nasdaq: ATHX) entered an exclusive partnership with Chugai Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize MultiStem cell therapy for ischemic stroke in Japan.
FN Media Group named Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CYCC) as one of several nutraceutical and biotech companies developing treatments for lifestyle related disorders.
On the downside
Compass Point downgraded Navient (Nasdaq: NAVI) from a Buy rating to a Neutral rating.
Profit taking continued to weigh down shares of Cytori Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CYTX).
Shares of National Bank of Greece (NYSE: NBG) fell despite a debt extension last week.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by 2 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 8 points to 2113. Bitcoin added $3 to $258.
Markets soar after Greek debt extension
March 02, 2015 at 09:43 AM EST