Markets Close Sharply Higher Over M&A Activity

Mergers and acquisitons news along with a jump in manufacturing activity boosted the markets to a sharply higher close with the Dow surging 127 points to 13,535. Nasdaq leaped 29 points to 2632 while S&P 500 climbed 16 points to 1519. The 30-year bond rose as the yield slipped to 5.100%.