US Stocks were higher yesterday as positive earnings reports and stronger-than-expected economic data outweighed worries over military escalation near the Ukrainian border.

An 8.2% gain in Apple yesterday after their earnings report accounted for most of the gain in the NASDAQ and S&P 500 as it is the heaviest weighting in both indexes accounting for 4 points yesterday in the S&P. (marketwatch.com)

Microsoft reported fiscal 3rd quarter profits declined 6.5% dragged down by slumping personal computer sales.  The earnings report was the first under the new CEO Satya Nadella who took over 3 months ago.  Nadella participating in the Microsoft earnings call which is something the old CEO Steve Ballmer never did.  Wall St. seemed to like what the new CEO had to say breaking from the old leadership sending the stock higher.(Yahoo Finance)

Shares of Amazon traded higher after the company reported a fiscal 1st quarter profit of $108 million or 23 cents/share, which was better than the street had expected.(marketwatch.com)

Starbucks reported their profits were 10% higher last quarter over the same period last year.  Starbucks ended the 1st quarter with 335 new stores.  Shares traded 1.5% higher on that news.(marketwatch.com)

And the Ford motor company saw their 1st quarter profits fall to 24 cents/share from 40 cents/share a year ago.  That news sent shares of Ford 3% lower in early trading.(marketwatch.com)