Upbeat jobless data boosted the markets to a higher close with the Dow soaring 164 points to 24,962. Nasdaq slipped 8 points to 7210.

On the upside

Harsco (NYSE: HSC) reported higher fourth quarter revenue.

Gulfport Energy (Nasdaq: GPOR) swung to a stronger than expected profit for the fourth quarter.

Alteryx (NYSE: AYX) narrowed losses significantly for the fourth quarter as revenue soared.

On the downside

Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) rejected an acquisition offer and named chief financial officer Lucinda M Baier to the position of president and chief executive.

Advaxis (Nasdaq: ADXS) priced its public offering of 10 million common shares at the discounted price of $2.00 per share.

SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) reported higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue but the stock price fell.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 6 to 5 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by nearly 3 to 2 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 added 2 points to 2,703. Bitcoin crashed $557 to $9,928.