Manufacturing activity expanded in February to lift the markets to a higher close with the Dow gaining 35 points to 14,089. Nasdaq rose 9 points to 3169.

On the upside

TheStreet listed GMX Resources (NYSE: GMXR) as one of five stocks ready to breakout.

Bargain hunters lifted shares of Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) whose stock price plunged yesterday on concerns that the solar energy company would not be able to make a debt payment at the end of March.

Cerus (Nasdaq: CERS) narrowed losses for the fourth quarter as revenue rose.

On the downside

Atlantic Power (NYSE: AT) cut its dividend and announced a shareholder rights plan.

Shares of Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) continued falling after passing its ex-dividend date on February 27, 2013.

Global Hunter Securities downgraded Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK) from an Accumulate rating to a Neutral rating.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE and by more than 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added 3 points to 1518.