Bargain hunters lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow rising 9 points to 16,036. Nasdaq gained 35 points to 4,319.
On the upside
Bargain hunters lifted shares of Energy Transfer Equity (NYSE: ETE).
The American Red Cross signed a multi-year agreement to purchase Cerus' (Nasdaq: CERS) INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma.
Needham downgraded BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: BCRX) from a Buy rating to a Hold rating but the stock price rose.
On the downside
Qualys (Nasdaq: QLYS) reported sharply lower fourth quarter earnings and forecast current quarter and full year results below expectations.
Shares of Plains GP Holdings (NYSE: PAGP) fell after Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA) reported sharply lower fourth quarter earnings and revenue.
Fourth quarter earnings and revenue fell for Viacom (Nasdaq: VIAB).
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 1 on the NYSE and by 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added a point to 1,855. Bitcoin rose $3 to $376.