ECB to initiate stimulus plan, markets close higher

The European Central Bank announced plans to initiate its stimulus plan on Monday which lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow rising 38 points to 18,135. Nasdaq gained 15 points to 4,982.

On the upside

Golar LNG (Nasdaq: GLNG) entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Rosneft Oil for cooperation in the area of floating liquefaction and transportation of natural gas.

Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ) reported sharply higher fourth quarter earnings and revenue.

PowerSecure International (NYSE: POWR) swung to a profit for the fourth quarter.

On the downside

Semtech (Nasdaq: SMTC) fell to a loss for the fourth quarter.

First quarter earnings and revenue slipped for Greif (NYSE: GEF) to fall short of analyst expectations.

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) reported a same store sales increase of 3.3% for the month of February but the pace slowed from January's 4.8% growth.

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 rose 2 points to 2101. Bitcoin added $6 to $276.