Google and Microsoft Boost Markets; Visa Leads Dow

Stocks ended the trading day Wednesday with modest gains as investors piled into McDonald's, Yum! Brands and Broadcom following their earnings. High-momentum tech names led markets with Google (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) doing particularly well. The two rallied ahead of their own respective earnings reports out Thursday afternoon. FMC Technologies (FTI) was the best performer on the S&P 500 after the drilling technologies company beat earnings forecasts. Visa (V) led the Dow higher after China opened up bank processing to foreign firms. Analysts estimate more than $300 million in additional revenue in the coming years.