The nation’s unemployment rate slipped to 5.3% to lift the markets to a higher open with the Dow rising 38 points to 17,796. Nasdaq held steady at 5,013.
On the upside
Ebay’s (Nasdaq: EBAY) PayPal will acquire Xoom (Nasdaq: XOOM) for a premium of approximately $890 million in cash.
Applied Genetic Technologies (Nasdaq: AGTC) entered a collaboration agreement with Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) to develop gene-based therapies for multiple ophthalmic diseases.
Health Net (NYSE: HNT) will be acquired by Centene (NYSE: CNC) in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $6.3 billion.
On the downside
Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) chief financial officer Michael Crews will depart the company at the end of July and will be replaced by Amy Schwetz.
Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) will release second quarter financial results before market open on Wednesday, July 29.
Shares of Comstock Resources (NYSE: CRK) extended its losses.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by more than 10 to 9 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 4 points to 2081. Bitcoin lost $4 to $254.
