Rising crude oil prices lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 28 points to 18,896. Nasdaq rose 16 points 5,338.
On the upside
Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) will pay a premium of approximately $2.3 billion to acquire LifeLock (NYSE: LOCK).
Headwaters (NYSE: HW) will be acquired by Boral for a premium of approximately $1.8 billion in cash.
Shares of RXi Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: RXII) surged on no news.
On the downside
Fourth quarter earnings and revenue for Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) fell short of analyst expectations and chief executive Donnie Smith will leave the company on December 31, 2016.
Sunoco Logistics Partners (NYSE: SXL) will acquire Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP) in an all stock transaction.
Live Ventures (Nasdaq: SHIP) reported higher preliminary fourth quarter earnings and revenue.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by 7 to 5 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 6 points to 2,188. Bitcoin climbed $8 to $735.
