Fed maintains low rates, markets close higher

The Federal Reserve's commitment to a continued policy of low interest rates lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow gaining 24 points to 17,156. Nasdaq rose 9 points to 4,562.

On the upside

TG Therapeutics (Nasdaq: TGTX) stock climbed again after announcing a special protocol assessment agreement with the Food and Drug Administration on Monday.

Shares of Epiq Systems (Nasdaq: EPIQ) continued soaring after Nasdaq announced on Monday that Epiq would be added to the Nasdaq Technology Dividend Index before Market Open on September 22, 2014.

A bankruptcy judge said that the bankruptcy hearing for Siga Technologies (Nasdaq: SIGA) was not the appropriate venue for PharmAthene to seek liability payments stemming from a lawsuit.

On the downside

Pomerantz will investigate investor claims against PDL BioPharma (Nasdaq: PDLI).

Owens-Illinois (NYSE: OI) warned of lower third quarter earnings.

Atlantic Power (NYSE: AT) extended its losses.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 6 points to 2005. Bitcoin dropped $18 to $440.