Investors welcomed strong earnings by sending the markets soaring to a sharply higher close with the Dow jumping 232 points to 20,996. Nasdaq climbed 41 points to 6,025 to top 6,000 for the first time.

On the upside

LSB Industries (NYSE: LXU) narrowed losses for the first quarter as revenue climbed.

Nord Anglia Education (NYSE: NORD) will be taken private by a consortium led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Baring Private Equity Asia.

Wabash National (NYSE: WNC) reported better than expected results for the first quarter prompting the company to lift its full year forecast.

On the downside

NGL Energy Partners (NYSE: NGL) declared a reduced quarterly cash distribution and slashed its full year forecast.

Ryder System (NYSE: R) disappointed with lower first quarter earnings that fell short of expectations.

AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) swung to a profit for the first quarter but shipments fell.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 2 to 1 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index climbed 14 points to 2,388. Bitcoin gained $15 to $1263.