Opening Bell Report

Warren Buffett's $5 billion bet on Goldman Sachs boosted the markets at the opening bell while lawmaker continued to debate about the $700 billion bailout proposed by regulators.  The Dow rose 13 points to 10,866.  Nasdaq added 6 points to 2159.

On the upside

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) offered to buy $5 billion in preferred stock of Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) while securing warrants to purchase an additional $5 billion worth of common shares over five years.

Shares of Sequenom (Nasdaq: SQNM) surged after the company reported a perfect series of Downs syndrome screening tests.

Wind and solar energy companies were boosted by a Senate bill that provided for more than $17 billion in renewable energy tax incentives.  Shares of Energy Conversion Devices (Nasdaq: ENER) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWR) soared.

On the downside

Medicis (NYSE: MRX) announced the restatement of its financials from 2003 to 2007.  The specialty pharmaceutical company offers dermatological products.

Coal producer James River Coal (Nasdaq: JRCC) announced the sale of at least 1.5 million shares in a public offering.

National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP) reported lower revenues due to a decline in insurance underwriting activity.

In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of 5 to 4 on the NYSE, but were narrowly edged out on Nasdaq.  The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks added a fraction to 710.