A modest increase in wholesale inventories lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow rising 27 points to 10,166. Nasdaq gained 7 points to 2183.
On the upside
Ace Limited (NYSE: ACE) will join the S&P 500, replacing Millipore (NYSE: MIL) which is being acquired by Merck KGaA.
Nanometrics (Nasdaq: NANO) affirmed its outlook for 2010 as well as 2011.
Cable company Suddenlink Communications entered a strategic relationship with TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) to distribute co-branded TiVo Premiere DVRs and non DVR set-top boxes.
On the downside
Conceptus (Nasdaq: CPTS) blamed the economy for lowering its second quarter and full year guidance.
Fourth quarter revenue for Regis (NYSE: RGS) missed estimates prompting a downgrade.
Moody's Investors Service downgraded Skilled Healthcare Group (NYSE: SKH) and placed the skilled nursing facilities operator's ratings under review.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by nearly 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a point to 621.
