Why Alcoa, Merck, and Agios Pharmaceuticals Jumped Today

The stock market once again bounced back from adversity on Monday, notching small gains after Friday's brutal sell-off. Major benchmarks were up a half percent or less, but investors generally took heart from the fact that the trade tensions between China and the U.S. didn't get any worse over the weekend.

They're also starting to look forward to the imminent beginning of earnings season, which will represent the first chance that most get to see the positive impact of tax reform on corporate profits. Among individual stocks, Alcoa (NYSE: AA), Merck (NYSE: MRK), and Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AGIO)were among the best performers on the day. Here's why they did so well.