A drop in first time applications for unemployment benefits lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow soaring 101 points to 23,949. Nasdaq gained 35 points to 6984.

On the upside

PVH (NYSE: PVH) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue.

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired which will allow Energizer Holdings (NYSE: ENR) to complete its acquisition of Spectrum Brands' battery and lighting products business.

Swiss National Bank increased its holdings in HRG (NYSE: HRG) by an additional 4,900 shares to a total holdings of 205,000.

On the downside

President Donald Trum tweeted more criticism of Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN).

Roku (Nasdaq: ROKU) removed the USTVnow service after receiving a copyright infringement complaint.

Dominion Energy threatened to withdraw its offer to acquire SCANA (NYSE: SCG) if senators lowered SCANA subsidiary SCE&G's bills by 13%.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 4 to 1 on the NYSE and by nearly 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 gained 11 points to 2,616. Bitcoin plummeted $371 to $7,501.