Rising crude oil prices lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow soaring 108 points to 21,492. Nasdaq leaped 72 points to 6,223.
On the upside
Novadaq Technologies (Nasdaq: NVDQ) will be acquired by Stryker for a premium of approximately $701 million.
Cobalt International Energy (NYSE: CIE) completed its 1-for-15 reverse stock split.
EQT (NYSE: EQT) will pay a premium of approximately $6.7 billion to acquire Rice Energy (NYSE: RICE).
On the downside
DryShips (Nasdaq: DRYS) announced a 1-for-5 reverse stock split.
Retreating gold prices weighed down shares of Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY).
Shares of Costco (Nasdaq: COST) extended its losses.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by nearly 7 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 surged 15 points to 2,449. Bitcoin jumped $89 to $2548.
