Shell’s bid for BG Group lifted the markets to a higher open with the Dow gaining 66 points to 17,942.  Nasdaq rose 28 points to 4,938.

On the upside

Shenzhen Liantronics acquired a 5% stake in AirMedia Group (Nasdaq: AMCN).

Second Sight Medical Products (Nasdaq: EYES) announced the first successful implant of a mechanical model of the Orion(TM) I Visual Cortical Prosthesis in an animal study.

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDSA) will acquire BG Group in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $70 billion.

On the downside

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) priced a secondary offering of 10 million common shares at the discounted price of $32.00 per share.

Investors locked in profits on Sysorex Global Holdings (Nasdaq: SYRX).
 
Flamel Technologies (Nasdaq: FLML) senior vice president of business and corporate development Steve Lisi left the company.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 2 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 rose 7 points to 2084. Bitcoin fell $7 to $244.