Morning Market Gainers

Ashford Hospitality Prime Inc AHP surged 13.47 percent to $13.90 after the company announced its plans to explore strategic alternatives for increasing holder value. Big Lots, Inc. BIG shares jumped 11.19 percent to $46.70 after the company reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc KTOS rose 9.95 percent to $4.76 after the company reported that its RT Logic subsidiary has received a $49 million contract award from a U.S. Government Agency for Satellite and Communication System hardware, equipment and products Smith & Wesson Holding Corp SWHC climbed 9.12 percent to $17.70 after the company reported upbeat results for its fiscal first quarter. American Software, Inc. AMSWA shares rose 7.87 percent to $9.05. American Software reported fiscal first-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.10 per share on revenue of $28.9 million. United Continental Holdings Inc UAL shares surged 6.09 percent to $56.61 after Standard & Poors reported that United Continental will join S&P 500. United Continental will replace Hospira, Inc. HSP after the closing bell on September 2. Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI shares gained 4.98 percent to $29.32 after Standard & Poors reported that Activision Blizzard will join S&P 500. Activision Blizzard will replace Pall Corporation PLL after the closing bell on Friday. Splunk Inc SPLK shares gained 3.15 percent to $66.26 after the company reported upbeat results for the second quarter and issued a strong revenue forecast.