A surge in new home sales lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 35 points to 16,215. Nasdaq rose 15 points to 4303.
On the upside
Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG) received a multi-site GenKey purchase order from Walmart Stores (NYSE: WMT).
Ballard Power Systems (Nasdaq: BLDP) narrowed losses for the fourth quarter.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Anika Therapeutics’ (Nasdaq: ANIK) arthritis treatment MONOVISC.
On the downside
Forest Oil (NYSE: FST) reversed year ago losses to post a profit for the fourth quarter but the results fell short of analyst expectations.
QEP Resources (NYSE: QEP) widened fourth quarter losses more than expected.
First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) disappointed with sharply lower fourth quarter earnings that missed estimates by a wide margin and forecast current quarter results below expectations.
The broader S&P 500 added 2 points to 1847. Bitcoin rose $20.69 or 3.87% to $554.65.