Strong job creation numbers in April lifted the markets to a sharply higher open with the Dow soaring 151 points 12,735. Nasdaq climbed 28 points to 2843.
On the upside
First quarter earnings for Sapient (Nasdaq: SAPE) nearly doubled to beat analyst expectations and the company forecast second quarter revenue ahead of estimates.
Warner Chilcott (Nasdaq: WCRX) widened first quarter losses but the results were better than expected.
A possible increase in power prices lifted shares of Korea Electric Power (NYSE: KEP).
On the downside
Obagi Medical Products (Nasdaq: OMPI) disappointed with a loss for the first quarter prompting a downgrade.
BRE Properties (NYSE: BRE) priced its public offering of 8 million common shares at $48 per share.
Weight Watchers International (NYSE: WTW) reported sharply higher first quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations but the stock price dropped.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 4 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks gained 7 points to 836.
