First time applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to lift the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 79 points to 24,837. Nasdaq rose 13 points to 7509.

On the upside

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALXN) reported positive results from a Phase 3 study of ALXN1210.

Semtech (Nasdaq: SMTC) reported a smaller than expected loss for the fourth quarter.

Dollar General (NYSE: DG) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue as same store sales climbed more than expected.

On the downside

Shares of Qorvo (Nasdaq: QRVO) fell for the third day in a row.

Excluding a benefit from the 2017 Tax Reform, ADT (NYSE: ADT) reported a loss in its first quarterly report as a publicly traded company.

ABM Industries (NYSE: ABM) announced a secondary offering of more than 9 million common shares.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 6 to 5 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 5 points to 2,754. Bitcoin soared $347 to $8,382.