Markets surge as consumer sentiment rises

Rising consumer sentiment boosted the markets to a sharply higher close with Dow surging 183 points to 18,024. Nasdaq leaped 63 points to 5,005.

On the upside

Nutrisystem (Nasdaq: NTRI) reported higher first quarter earnings and revenue that beat expectations, forecast current quarter result ahead of estimates and lifted its full year outlook.

Bloomberg reported that Monsanto (NYSE: MON) approached Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) for a possible acquisition.

MRC Global (NYSE: MRC) reported higher first quarter earnings that surpassed expectations.

On the downside

Control4 (Nasdaq: CTRL) widened first quarter losses more than expected.

BioAmber (NYSE: BIOA) priced its offering of 3.9 million common shares at the discounted price of $9.00 per share.

CytRx (Nasdaq: CYTR) fell to a loss for the first quarter.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 2 on the NYSE and by nearly 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 soared 22 points to 2108. Bitcoin slipped $1 to $233.