The markets surged during the midday with the Dow soaring 135 points to 17,461 as crude oil prices climbed above $41 per barrel. Nasdaq rose 9 points to 4,773.
On the upside
Morgan Stanley upgraded Helix Energy Solutions (NYSE: HLX) from an Equal Weight rating to an Overweight rating.
Shares of Itau Unibanco (NYSE: ITUB) rose as the value of the real rose.
Rising crude oil prices lifted shares of Cliffs Natural Resourcs (NYSE: CLF).
On the downside
Endo International (Nasdaq: ENDP) stock extended its losses.
Bio Blast Pharma (Nasdaq: ORPN) priced its registered direct offering.
Shares of Pernix Therapeutics (Nasdaq: PTX) continued falling.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 7 to 2 on the NYSE and by more than 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 climbed 12 points to 2,039. Bitcoin added $2 to $418.