Despite escalating tensions in Ukraine, the markets surged to a sharply higher open with the Dow leaping 180 points to 16,245 as factory production climbed 0.8% in February. Nasdaq soared 48 points to 4293.
On the upside
JA Solar Holdings (Nasdaq: JASO) reversed year ago losses to post a profit for the fourth quarter.
Kandi Technologies (Nasdaq: KNDI) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter due to non-cash charges but revenue soared.
Shares of Magnegas (Nasdaq: MNGA) continued rising.
On the downside
VeriSign (Nasdaq: VRSN) said that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's intent to transition key Internet domain name functions would not affect business but Cowan & Co. downgraded the company from an Outperform rating to a Market Perform rating.
Investors locked in profits on McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX).
Wells Fargo downgraded Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI) from an Outperform rating to a Market Perform rating.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 5 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 7 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 surged 18 points to 1859. Bitcoin slipped $9.46 or 1.50% to $619.04.
