Bulls Make Their Comeback

Michael Eisner's investment company Tornante and private-equity group Madison Dearborn Partners said they will acquire Topps (TOPP Quote) for $385 million, or $9.75 a share. The trading-card company's stock jumped 90 cents, or 10.1%, to $9.81.

CBS (CBS Quote) said it will buy back 47 million shares for $1.4 billion under an accelerated repurchase program. The move is part of a plan announced last week. The stock was higher by $1.32, or 4.5%, to close at $30.94.

Shares of Novartis (NVS Quote) finished higher after the Food and Drug Administration gave approval for the company's high blood pressure drug Tekturna. The stock climbed $3.31, or 6.2%, to $56.85.

On the research front, Bear Stearns upgraded Texas Instruments (TXN Quote) to outperform from peer perform. Also, Deutsche Securities upped Dow component Altria to buy from hold.

Texas Instruments added 45 cents, or 1.5%, to $31.35. Altria was higher by $2.21, or 2.7%, to $84.42.