Palo Alto’s VMware Inc. (VMW) jumped more than 9.4 percent by the close of trading Tuesday, making it the biggest mover among local stocks tracked by the Examiner. Foster City’s Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) also rose, ending more than 6.2 percent higher.

On the downside, San Jose-based SunPower Corp. (SPWR), declined by more than 2.4 percent and chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) fell more than 0.7 percent.

The markets closed on an up note today, with the Dow Jones rising more than 1.6 percent, or 215 points, the Nasdaq more than 1.5 percent and the S&P 500 more than 1.4 percent.

Local companies in the news this afternoon included Mountain View-based Google Inc. (GOOG), which is expected to offer increased online storage options, and AMD, which was downgraded from buy to neutral by an analyst.</p>