Thursday's Tech Winners & Losers

Tech stocks rallied modestly Thursday, continuing a recent string of gains, this time on the back of several analyst upgrades and optimism for SanDisk's(SNDK) foray into China.

The company was advancing 2.7% after the flash data storage cards announced it was opening its first production facility in the People's Republic of China. Shares were adding $1.43 to $55.

SanDisk is a component of the Nasdaq 100, which was 6.70 points higher to 2095.08.

GSI Group(GSIG), which makes precision technology components such as lasers for the electronics, semiconductor, medical and other industries, was rising 10% on more optimistic third-quarter guidance. After a $6 million order from a Japanese customer, the company now expects revenue of between $82 million and $84 million and diluted earnings of 16 cents to 18 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect earnings of 11 cents a share on revenue of $80.6 million. Shares were adding $1.01 to $11.16.

A flurry of analyst upgrades boosted several tech players.

Networking equipment maker Westell Technologies(WSTL) jumped 9.2%, after Robert W. Baird upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral. Shares were rising 20 cents to $2.38.

SiRF Technologies(SIRF), which makes chips and software to enable global positioning systems, jumped 10.9% after Credit Suisse upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral. The analyst expects a strong holiday season, according to the Associated Press. Shares gained $2.12 to $21.61.

Customer-relations management software maker Right Now Technologies(RNOW) was adding 3.6% after RBC Capital Markets upgraded the stock to market perform from underperform. Shares were gaining 57 cents to $16.39.

Micron Technology(MU) was gaining 6.2%, after a Lazard Capital Markets research note said it expected the chipmaker to beat Wall Street's fourth-quarter estimates, according to Reuters. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect a loss of 23 cents a share on revenue of $1.39 billion. Shares were up 67 cents to $11.42.

On the down side, Embarq(EQ), which provides voice, data and Internet access to business customers, was sinking 4.2% after Merrill Lynch lowered its rating to underweight from equal weight and cut its price target to $55 from $59, according to Marketwatch. Shares were falling $2.53 to $57.24.

Advanced Micro Devices(AMD) also was losing ground, despite no major news. The stock was down 44 cents, or 3.2%, to $13.31.

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