Higher open on final trading day of 2014

The markets opened higher with the Dow rising 35 points to 18,018 on the final trading day of the year. Nasdaq gained 14 points to 4,791.

On the upside

NephroGenex (Nasdaq: NRX) successfully completed a QT/QTc cardiac safety study of of Pyridorin.

Bargain hunters lifted shares of Civeo (NYSE: CVEO).

Meadowbrook Insurance Group (NYSE: MIG) will be acquired by Fosun International for a premium of approximately $433 million in cash.

On the downside

Falling crude oil prices weighed down shares of SandRidge Energy (NYSE: SD).

Investors locked in profits on NeuroDerm (Nasdaq: NDRM).

CNBC listed TransOcean (NYSE: RIG) as the worst S&P 500 stock of 2014 for plunging 62%.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 10 to 9 on the NYSE and by more than 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added 2 points to 2082. Bitcoin edged up $1 at $311.