A strong industrial production report in Europe lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow climbing 81 points to 10,292. Nasdaq gained 25 points to 2269.
On the upside
Marsh & McLennan's (NYSE: MMC) consulting practice Mercer will settle a lawsuit filed by the Alaska Retirement Management Board with a $500 million payment.
Longbow upgraded International Paper (NYSE: IP) to a Buy rating on Friday.
Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) will repurchase the $950 million worth of preferred shares that were issued to the Treasury Department under the government's bailout plan.
On the downside
THQ (Nasdaq: THQI) blamed weak sales for cuttin its guidance for the first quarter as well as the full year.
Government officials are demanding that BP (NYSE: BP) place at least $20 billion in a escrow account to pay for clean up and damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Morgan Stanley cut its price target on Transocean (NYSE: RIG) to $105.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 7 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks gained 7 points to 656.
