The markets advanced during the midday with the Dow rising 26 points to 21,440. Nasdaq gained 33 points to 6,186.
Facebook's Oculus has slashed the price of its Rift virtual reality headset and Touch controllers for the second time this year. On March 1, the cost of the Rift-Touch combination tumbled from $798 to $598. The Summer of Rift promotion is offering the headset and hand controllers for $399 for the next six weeks.
Amazon's Prime Day begins tonight at 9pm EST (6pm PST) and at 7pm EST (4pm PST) for orders placed through Alexa and ends at 3am EST (12am PST). Deals on electronics such as the Amazon Echo for $89.99, a 50% discount off the regular $179.99 price, and the Element Amazon Fire TV Edition 55" for $399.99, 38.5% off the regular price of $649.99, are expected to go fast. Athletes can pick up Adidas and Under Armour items for 30% off.
The technology industry supported International Entrepreneurial Rule that was to take effect on July 17 will be rescinded by the Trump administration. The program would have allowed foreigners who started companies and secured either $100,000 in government grants or $250,000 in venture capital to remain in the United States for 30 months. Business leaders and trade groups criticized the move.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 3 to 2 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by a slim margin on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 5 points to 2,431. Bitcoin plunged $102 to $2407.
