Strong earnings lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow adding 6 points to 21,717. Nasdaq climbed 37 points to 6,459.
On the upside
GNC Holdings (NYSE: GNC) reported better than expected earnings for the second quarter.
ShoreTel (Nasdaq: SHOR) will be acquired by Mitel (Nasdaq: MITL) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $530 million.
Brookfield Business Partners will pay approximately $750 million to acquire 60% of Teekay Offshore Partners (NYSE: TOO), which is a subsidiary of Teekay (NYSE: TK).
On the downside
Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) disappointed with flat monthly active users quarter over quarter.
AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) reported disappointing results from its Mystic study combining two immunotherapies to treat lung cancer.
Spirit Airlines (Nasdaq: SAVE) reported higher cost per available seat mile in the second quarter.
In the broad market, advancing issues barely edged out decliners by a slim margin on the NYSE while advancers edged out decliners by nearly 9 to 8 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 5 points to 2,482. Bitcoin soared $51 to $2553.
