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.

Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods plunged in June by the largest amount in five months.

The Dow topped 9,000 for the first time since January as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and cheered earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.

The Dow topped 9,000 for the first time since January as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and cheered earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.

Stocks rallied Thursday as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and focused on encouraging earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.

Futures indicated a slightly higher open for Wall Street Thursday ahead of another vast amount of earnings reports.

With the U.S. economy expected to emerge this year from the longest recession since World War II, business forecasters are feeling a bit less gloomy about the future.

Consumer prices shot up in June by the largest amount in 11 months, reflecting the biggest jump in gasoline prices in nearly five years.

Wholesale prices took a bigger-than-expected leap in June, rising the most since November 2007, led by more expensive energy products.

Consumer prices rose less than expected in May, fresh evidence that the recession is keeping inflation in check.

Wholesale prices rose less than expected in May as a large jump in the price of gasoline offset a drop in food costs.