Strong growth in factory orders lifted the markets during the midday with the Dow adding 22 points to 16,554. Nasdaq rose 5 points to 4273.

On the upside

Shares of Rubicon Project (NYSE: RUBI) soared in its market debut.

Alliance Fiber Optics Products (Nasdaq: AFOP) reported preliminary first quarter revenue that more than doubled to top expectations.

China Digital TV Holding (NYSE: STV) declared a special cash dividend of $0.50 per common share payable on May 9, 2014 to shareholder of record April 14, 2014.

On the downside

Shares of Identive Group (Nasdaq: INVE) continued falling.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) halted a Phase 3 study of its non-small cell lung cancer treatment that contains Agenus' (Nasdaq: AGEN) QS-21 Stimulon®.

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ARIA) appointed Hugh M. Cole to the position of senior vice president and chief business officer.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 5 points to 1890. Bitcoin fell $32.42 or 6.66% to $454.36.