Corporate consolidations lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 46 points to 11,918. Nasdaq rose 7 points to 2696.
On the upside
Rock-Tenn (NYSE: RKT) will pay approximately $3.5 billion in cash and stock to acquire Smurfit-Stone Container (NYSE: SSCC).
Genoptix (NYSE: GXDX) will be acquired by Novartis (NYSE: NVS) for approximately $470 million in cash.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Clinical Data's (Nasdaq: CLDA) major depression treatment Viibryd.
On the downside
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) chairman and chief executive Julian Day will retire on May 16. The consumer electronics retailer also forecast fourth quarter results well below analyst expectations.
