The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow climbing 118 points to 18,412 as crude oil prices rose. Nasdaq gained 35 points to 5,330.
Startup Flybrix introduced two do-it-yourself kits to make drones using Legos. The basic package is priced at $189 and uses an app to control the drone. The deluxe model comes with a handheld controller and costs $249. Each kit includes 56 Lego pieces, a pre-programmed circuit board with LED lights, motors, and propellors.
China lifted a ban on beef imports from the United States that has been in place for 13 years. The beef embargo was imposed in 2013 in response to mad cow disease. China is the world's second largest buyer of beef and demand continues to grow.
Google partnered with MIT Media Lab to launch its Code Next tech lab in Oakland to increase the pool of minority workers in technology. The lab will provide after school programs to middle school students beginning in October. Students will be exposed to career and educational opportunities in computer science. More than half of Oakland residents are African American or Latino.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 4 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 climbed 12 points to 2,175. Bitcoin added $1 to $597.
