On the upside

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) reported lower profits that beat expectations and offered a modest growth picture for 2010.  Analysts had been predicting a small decline in revenues.

An analyst upgraded Louisiana Pacific (NYSE: LPX) after the wood-products maker posted lower sales and a smaller loss.

Shares of Fuel Systems Solutions (Nasdaq: FSYS) soared after the company posted higher revenues and profits while raising its outlook.

On the downside

CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) posted higher 3rd quarter profits, but its pharmacy benefits unit sharply contracted over the last several months.

Smith Micro Software (Nasdaq: SMSI) managed to post a small quarterly profit, but warned that overall revenue numbers may be lower for the year.

Shares of Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) slumped after the organic grocer posted slightly higher revenues and earnings, but promotions to attract shoppers may hurt margins in the 4th quarter.

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 4 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 3 to 1 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks leaped 11 points to 574.