Corporate consolidations lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow climbing 71 points to 12,164. Nasdaq gained 19 points 2788.
On the upside
Danaher will pay approximately $5.87 billion to acquire biomedical testing instruments firm Beckman Coulter (NYSE: BEC).
Pride International (NYSE: PDE) agreed to be acquired by Ensco (NYSE: ESV) in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $7.31 billion.
