Tech Stocks in Motion

Updated from 12:53 p.m. EST

Shares of Rockwell Automation(ROK Quote) were among technology's winners Tuesday, rising 12.1% after the company raised its first-quarter outlook.

The automation-equipment maker now expects earnings of 65 cents a share on sales of $1.19 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting earnings of 48 cents a share on sales of $1.15 billion. The company cited growth in sales of its Logix suite, cost controls, and improving price and cost dynamics. Rockwell added that sales were strong across the board, showing strength in most end markets, regions and products. Shares traded up $5.59 to $51.85.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD Quote) fell 26.2% after the company warned of a sequential slowdown in earnings on sales that are expected to be up slightly. Fourth-quarter operating income is now expected to be "down significantly" from third-quarter operating income of $68.4 million, while sales are expected to slightly exceed the $1.24 billion reported in the third quarter, according to the company. "In a competitive and challenging NOR flash memory market, the Memory group is anticipated to have lower fourth-quarter sales and an operating loss," AMD warned. Previously, AMD said that flash memory sales would be flat to up on a sequential basis. Analysts had been looking for earnings of 19 cents a share on sales of $1.35 billion. AMD is due to report numbers on Jan. 18. Shares traded down $5.27 to $14.86. ...