By Susan Kelly

Medtronic reported a surprising 59 percent boost in second-quarter profit Tuesday, as increased sales of implantable heart devices defied reports of weakening demand from competitors.

A UBS analyst said Wednesday that medical technology stocks are trading at attractive prices, and raised his ratings or price targets on nine of them.

Stocks finished lower after well-known banking analyst Dick Bove downgraded his rating on Wells Fargo.

Stocks advanced Wednesday as investors were encouraged by a few earnings reports, including Morgan Stanley, Yahoo and SanDisk. The VIX, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, dropped to just above 20.

Stocks opened lower Wednesday as a raft of companies beating earning estimates but failed to impress investors.

Earnings season continues in earnest Wednesday, as we roll on with a week that will ultimately see 25 percent of the S&P 500 report their quarterly numbers. 

The Dow and S&P snapped their winning streaks Wednesday as disappointing earnings from two of Wall Street's biggest names overshadowed another round of earnings beats.

Stocks wobbled Wednesday as a slew of earnings beats, including one from Pfizer, were encouraging but disappointing reports from two of Wall Street's biggest names dragged on the market.

Stocks wobbled Wednesday as a slew of earnings beats, including one from Pfizer, were encouraging but disappointing reports from two of Wall Street's biggest names dragged on the market.

Futures indicated a lower open for Wall Street Wednesday as cautious words from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Yahoo's missing revenue expectations lent to investors taking profits.

Medical specialists say more physicians are needed who can expertly remove heart device wires, following a recent product recall affecting thousands of U.S. patients.