Friday's After Hours Movers: Alexion Pharma Resumes Trading Following Halt

Momentum in US markets carried over into Friday's trading session after China's central bank slashed its interest rates for the sixth time in less than a year. The central bank also lowered the amount of cash on hand that banks need to hold to reinvigorate its economy. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank's President Mario Draghi said on Thursday that it could accelerate its bond purchases in addition to extending its asset buying program along with further cuts in the deposited rate which is already at negative 0.2 percent. The Dow gained 157.81 points (0.90 percent) to close at 17,646.97. The S&P 500 gained 22.65 points (1.10 percent) to close at 2,075.16. The Nasdaq gained 111.81 points (2.27 percent) to close at

Shares of

were halted with 20 minutes left in Friday's trading session. The company announced that the FDA has approved Strensiq™ (asfotase alfa) for the treatment of patients with perinatal-, infantile- and juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia (HPP). The stock re-opened for trading at 4:10 and was higher by just over two percent $174.70 shortly after trading resumption. By 4:20, the stock was higher by 3.41 percent at $176.99.

, a $400 million market cap community banking and mortgage company, reported its third quarter results. The company earned $0.19 per share versus a prior $0.14. Shares were showing no trades following its earnings results.

, a property and casualty reinsurer holding company with a market cap of nearly $1 billion, reported a loss of $(5.98) in its third quarter versus a loss of $(1.40) a year ago. The issue also showed no trades following its earnings release.