The markets opened higher with the Dow gaining 34 points to 20,890 as import prices edged up 0.2% in February. Nasdaq rose 9 points to 5,847.
On the upside
Ocera Therapeutics (Nasdaq: OCRX) will report additional upbeat data from its Phase 2b STOP-HE study of intravenous OCR-002 in patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy at the Cowen and Co. 37th Annual Healthcare Conference today.
e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) reversed year ago losses to post a stronger than expected profit for the fourth quarter.
Vivus (Nasdaq: VVUS) swung to a profit for the fourth quarter.
On the downside
Tailored Brands (NYSE: TLRD) reported a wider than expected loss for the fourth quarter.
Fairmount Santrol Holdings (NYSE: FMSA) reported a greater than expected loss for the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter losses were wider than expected for Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG).
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 10 to 9 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index rose 5 points to 2,368. Bitcoin gained $21 to $1,175.