Cisco Systems Rises on Upgrade

Updated from 9:14 a.m.

Tech bellwether,

Cisco Systems

(CSCO) - Get Report

was up 5.4% in midafternoon after

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter

raised its rating on the stock to outperform from neutral.

The network equipment company is expected to release third-quarter earnings after the close today. Analysts are expecting earnings of 2 cents a share on revenue of $4.69 billion.

Extreme Networks

(EXTR) - Get Report

a direct competitor with Cisco in network switches, also benefited from the Morgan Stanley's positive comments on the sector, rising 7.3%.

Nortel

(NT)

was up 3.3%.