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Stocks recovered from a brief dip, but were below their best levels of the morning.

As of 1 p.m. Eastern time, the Nasdaq, New York composite and S&P 500 were each up 0.2%, and the Dow 0.1%. Nasdaq volume was tracking 6% higher, NYSE volume 2% lower.

Education, Internet and shoe manufacturers were among the groups leading the market.

Universal Electronics () gapped up and lodged itself 2.08 higher at 33.32 in frantic trade. The stock broke out of a base earlier this week and is now extended from its 29.99 buy point.

The maker of pre-programmed universal remotes for consumer electronics reported 31 cents a share in its first quarter. That’s 104% over last year’s bottom line and 4 cents over views. The company won an upgrade from RBC Capital Markets.

Priceline.com () leapt 2.90 to 60.40 on five times its usual trade after the online travel services company upped its Q1 guidance to 43 cents a share. That’s up from an earlier estimate of between 22 cents and 28 cents. Analysts expected, on average, 28 cents, according to a Thomson Financial poll. Priceline had soared as high as 63.18 in the first hour of trading, but cooled off since then.

Celgene () tacked on 1.70 to 63.31, a new high, in slightly above-average trade. The maker of treatments for cancer and immune-inflammatory diseases was hit early Thursday by a poorly received earnings report. The stock fell as low as 59.37 before closing at 61.61, off just 1.25 for the day. That action looked much like an upside reversal. Friday’s action looks like a follow-through to that recovery.

Irish airline Ryanair (), which got thrown for a 6% loss Thursday, fell another 1.82 to 42.60 in heavy trade. The European Commission put off until July 4 its deadline to rule on Ryanair’s $1.9 billion hostile takeover bid for rival Irish carrier Aer Lingus.

BigBand Networks (), which came public in March at 13, plunged 2.56 to 18.87 on nearly five times its average volume for this time of day. BigBand makes the network platforms that enable audio and video signals to transmit to various devices. This is how music and your favorite TV shows end up on your computer and cell phone.

The company beat Q1 earnings estimates but gave Q2 and full year sales guidance below Street expectations.

11 a.m. ET update: Merger News Fuel Stocks In Early Trade

The major indexes opened higher Friday after merger news eclipsed a mixed jobs report.

At 10:40 a.m. ET, the New York composite led with a 0.5% gain. The S&P 500 headed further north of the 1500 mark, rising 0.4%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq added 0.3%. Nasdaq volume was tracking 4% higher and NYSE volume was tracking 10% lower.

On the economic front, the economy added 88,000 jobs in April, below economists’ expectations of 100,000. Payrolls in March were revised up slightly to 180,000 from 177,000.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.5% as expected. Average hourly earnings rose 0.2%, shy of the expected 0.3%, easing fears of wage inflation.

Reuters Group () gapped up and rocketed 15.15, or 26%, to 74.07. The British media and financial data firm confirmed reports of takeover offers. Early this week, News Corp. () offered to buy Dow Jones () for $5 billion.

Yahoo () gapped above its 50-day line on monster trade. Shares surged 5.07, or 18% to 33.25. A published report said that Microsoft () has resumed its interest in the Internet search engine.

Elsewhere, Crocs () cleared a cup-shaped base. Shares gapped up and vaulted 10 points, or 18%, to a record high of 67.41 on brisk turnover. Late Thursday, the shoemaker delivered a 259% surge in Q1 profit, trouncing views. Sales jumped 217%. The company boosted its full-year earnings and sales outlook ahead of analysts’ estimates. It also announced a 2-for-1 split. Morgan Keegan lifted the stock to strong buy from buy.

Solar stocks were red hot after cooling off recently. First Solar () gapped up and jumped 7.30, or 13%, to 65.25. Late Thursday, the Arizona-based maker of solar modules reported first-quarter earnings of 7 cents a share, reversing a year-ago loss of 8 cents a share. Revenue soared 392%, the highest in 13 quarters. The stock recent found support at its 50-day moving average.

Trina Solar () gained 4.30 to 56.85 and SunPower () jumped 1.91 to 58.74.

On the downside, Jones Soda () gapped down and dropped 2.81, or 11%, to 22.40. Late Thursday, the company reported Q1 earnings of a penny a share, flat compared to a year ago and below views of 3 cents. Jones attributed the shortfall to rising costs. Sales rose 5% to $9.2 million, missing estimates of $13.7 million. Longbow cut the stock to neutral from buy.

Sears Holdings () gapped below its 50-day line, falling 7.72 to 180.60. Late Thursday, the department store operator said it expects first-quarter income between $1.30 and $1.30 a share vs. consensus estimates of $1.46 a share. The company said same-store sales in Q1 were down 4.7%.