Markets rise at midday

The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow gaining 40 points to 17,570. Nasdaq climbed 34 points to 4,750.

On the upside

Great Basin Scientific (Nasdaq: GBSN) initiated a clinical trial for its Bordatella Direct Test to detect the Bordatella pertussis bacterium.

Shares of Neothetics (Nasdaq: NEOT) continued climbing.

Hercules Offshore (Nasdaq: HERO) stock rose for the fourth day in a row.

On the downside

Investors locked in profits on Carbylan Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CBYL).

Profit taking weighed down shares of Top Image Systems (Nasdaq: TISA).

Acxiom (Nasdaq: ACXM) narrowed losses for the fourth quarter but the company forecast full year results below expectations.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 10 to 9 on the NYSE while advancers edged out decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 6 points to 2,054. Bitcoin added $1 to $454.