A strong 2.9% year-on-year increase in wages lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow gaining 64 points to 19,963. Nasdaq climbed 33 points to 5,521.

On the upside

First quarter revenue for The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) tumbled but the results were better than expected.

Pernix Therapeutics (Nasdaq: PTX) appointed Ken Pina to the position of senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Shares of Bonanza Creek Energy (NYSE: BCEI) rose for the third day.

On the downside

Investor locked in profits on Tahoe Resources (NYSE: TAHO).

Live Ventures (Nasdaq: LIVE) appointed Vinland A. Johnson to the position of chief financial officer.

Stein Mart (Nasdaq: SMRT) reported a sharp 4.8% drop in holiday same store sales.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 10 to 9 on the NYSE and by nearly 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index rose 7 points to 2,276. Bitcoin plummeted $115 to $880.