One Fine Day for IPOs

Updated from 2:26 p.m. EST

The new-issues market got a second wind Thursday, with five IPOs advancing in their debuts.

The performance, as the deals come from a broad array of sectors, is refreshing after two of three offerings fell below their issue levels Tuesday. "When a variety of companies come public and do well, it is a mark of a healthy market," said Francis Gaskins, editor of IPODesktop.com.

Insurer Assurant(AIZ Quote) was lately up $2.55, or 11.6%, to $24.55 after pricing 80 million shares at $22 a share in a deal valued at $1.76 billion, the biggest of the year. ...