Falling jobless claims and record low mortgage rates lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow climbing 46 points to 12,625. Nasdaq gained 18 points to 2788.

On the upside

Fourth quarter earnings for Knight Capital Group (NYSE: KCG) surged more than fourfold to surpass analyst expectations by a wide margin.

Hansen Medical (Nasdaq: HNSN) will exhibit its Magellan Robotic System at the Leipzig Interventional Course from January 25-28.

NetScout Systems (Nasdaq: NTCT) reported lower third quarter earnings but the results topped analyst estimates.

On the downside

MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) will spend $4.6 billion over five years to build solar power plants in Japan.

Navistar International (NYSE: NAV) failed to convince the Environmental Protection Agency to recall model year 2010 engines made by a rival.

A member of Motley Fool's investing community said to avoid Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: LXRX).

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 2 to 1 on the NYSE and by 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added 3 points to 782.