The markets opened higher with the Dow rising 32 points to 19,914 ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's December meeting. Nasdaq gained 30 points to 5,459.
On the upside
Evoke Pharma (Nasdaq: EVOK) provided additional statistically significant data from a Phase 3 trial of Gimoti to treat acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis.
Cymabay Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CBAY) entered an exclusive license agreement with Kowa Pharmaceuticals America for the development and commercialization of arhalofenate in the U.S.
Interpace Diagnostics Group (Nasdaq: IDXG) announced a registered direct offering of 375,000 shares of common stock.
On the downside
Shares of Agile Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AGRX) extended its losses.
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (Nasdaq: AMD) fell again.
Profit taking weighed down shares of PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF).
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 4 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index gained 9 points to 2,266. Bitcoin surged $62 to $1,068.
