The nation's unemployment rate slipped to its lowest level in two years to lift the markets to a higher open with the Dow climbing 83 points to 12,403. Nasdaq gained 14 points to 2795.
On the upside
Providence Equity Partners will acquire SRA International (NYSE: SRX) in an all cash deal.
Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) to a Buy rating.
Nasdaq and IntercontinentalExchange made a cash and stock hostile bid for NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) valued at approximately $11.3 billion.
On the downside
Logitech International (Nasdaq: LOGI) blamed lower than expected demand for cutting its fiscal 2011 revenue and earnings outlook.
AVI Biopharma (Nasdaq: AVII) priced its public offering of 20 million common shares at $1.50 per share.
Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) must restate its 2010 second and third quarter results and its full year financials.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks gained 5 points to 848.
