Mid-Day Market Update: Alcoa Surges On Upbeat Earnings; Intuitive Surgical Shares Slip

Midway through trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.53 percent to 16,341.84 while the NASDAQ gained 0.88 percent to 4,149.35. The S&P also rose, surging 0.46 percent to 1,860.47.

Healthcare stocks gained Wednesday, with Senomyx

leading advancers after the company announced a research agreement with PepsiCo

. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Pernix Therapeutics Holdings

, Albany Molecular Research

and Cytokinetics

. In trading on Wednesday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.54 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais SA

, off 3.2 percent, and Companhia Paranaense de Energia

, down 3.9 percent.

Constellation Brands

reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. Constellation's quarterly net income surged to $157.2 million, or $0.79 per share, from $81.7 million, or $0.43 per share, in the year-ago period. Its net sales climbed to $1.29 billion versus $696 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.76 per share on sales of $1.29 billion. Constellation expects FY15 earnings of $3.95 to $4.15 per share.

Constant Contact

shares shot up 27.51 percent to $27.95 after the company lifted its Q1 and FY14 revenue outlook. Shares of Prothena Corporation plc

got a boost, shooting up 9.73 percent to $32.82 after the company reported the

of a Phase 1 clinical trial of PRX002 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Citigroup initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $50.00 price target. Alcoa

shares were also up, gaining 3.43 percent to $12.96 after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. Alcoa posted its quarterly adjusted earnings of $0.09 per share on revenue of $5.45 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.05 per share on revenue of $5.57 billion.

Shares of Intuitive Surgical

were down 6.42 percent to $458.38 after the company issued

for the first-quarter. The company expected revenue of around $465 million, versus analysts' estimates of $535.5 million. Sterne Agee initiated coverage on the stock with an Underperform rating. WD-40 Company

shares tumbled 6.44 percent to $72.81 after the company reported weaker-than-expected FQ2 earnings. Ashford Hospitality Trust

was down, falling 6.43 percent to $10.48 after the company priced 7.5 million shares at $10.70 per share.

In commodity news,

to $102.97, while gold traded down 0.31 percent to $1,305.00. Silver traded down 1.43 percent Wednesday to $19.77, while copper fell 0.80 percent to $3.03.

European shares

today. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.04 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index climbed 0.23 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 0.16 percent and the French CAC 40 jumped 0.40 percent while U.K. shares surged 0.68 percent.

The MBA reported that its index of mortgage application activity fell 1.60% in the week ended April 4. US wholesale inventories rose 0.50% in February, versus economists' expectations for a 0.50% gain. Crude stockpiles surged 4 million barrels for the week ended April 4, the US Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts were expecting a gain of 2.5 million barrels. Gasoline supplies declined 5.2 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles climbed 200,000 barrels. The Federal Open Market Committee will issue minutes of its latest meeting at 2:00 p.m. ET.