A greater than expected drop in first time applications for unemployment benefits lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 45 points to 17,963. Nasdaq climbed 23 points to 4,882.
On the upside
Danone will pay a premium of approximately $10.4 billion in cash to acquire WhiteWave (NYSE: WWAV).
AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG) will be acquired by Avast Software for a premium of approximately $1.3 billion in cash.
Dr. Peter Chiou will buy 577,000 shares of SemiLEDs (Nasdaq: LEDS) common stock and $1,615,000 in convertible notes.
On the downside
Investors locked in profits on Torchlight Energy Resources (Nasdaq: TRCH).
Deutsche Bank downgraded First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) from a Buy rating to a Hold rating.
Retreating gold prices weighed down shares of McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX).
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 2 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 7 points to 2,106. Bitcoin plunged $32 to $635.
