The markets opened higher with the Dow rising 8 points to 22,100 as crude oil prices slipped. Nasdaq gained 10 points to 6,361.
On the upside
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) may pay up to $1 billion to acquire the film and music library of Eros International (NYSE: EROS) parent company Eros Group.
MyoKardia (Nasdaq: MYOK) reported positive results from a midstage clinical trial of its mavacamten to treat an inherited form of heart disease.
NxStage Medical (Nasdaq: NXTM) will be acquired by Fresenius Medical Care for approximately $2 billion.
On the downside
Zynerba Pharma (Nasdaq: ZYNE) reported disappointing results from a midstage clinical trial of a cannabidiol gel to treat adult epilepsy with focal seizures.
UBS analyst John Roberts downgraded Intrepid Potash (NYSE: IPI) from a Neutral rating to a Sell rating.
Applied Optoelectronics (NYSE: ATW) fell to a loss for the third quarter as revenue plunged.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of more than 4 to 3 on the NYSE and by more than 9 to 8 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added a point to 2,477. Bitcoin surged $61 to $2966.