Median weekly earnings rose 2.9% in the fourth quarter to lift the markets to a higher close with the Dow soaring 112 points to 19,912. Nasdaq climbed 48 points to 5,600.
On the upside
GenVec (Nasdaq: GNVC) will be acquired by Intrexon (Nasdaq: XON) in an all stock transaction.
Amtech Systems (Nasdaq: ASYS) announced that it has recorded $84 million in bookings for fiscal 2017 through January 20, 2017.
Zack's upgraded Marathon Patent Group (Nasdaq: MARA) from a Sell rating to a Hold rating.
On the downside
Shares of DryShips (Nasdaq: DRYS) extended its losses.
Oppenheimer downgraded Energous (Nasdaq: WATT) from an Outperform rating to a Market Perform rating.
Shares of Globus Maritime (Nasdaq: GLBS) fell for the fourth day.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index climbed 14 points to 2,280. Bitcoin added $1 to $891.
