The first day of Wall Street’s third quarter brought gains to the major indices as the week looks to a holiday-shortened end. The Dow gained 0.7%, the S&P added 0.4% and the Nasdaq closed up 0.6%.

Here are Wednesday’s winners and losers:

Winners

Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ)
The drink manufacturer bucked saw its shares rise 7.3% on a better-than-expected quarterly earnings report. STZ last traded at $13.61, a gain of 93 cents on the day.

XL Capital Ltd. (XL)
The insurer added 7% on Wednesday, closing at $12.26 – a gain of 80 cents on the day.

Ball Corp (BLL)
News that the packing manufacturer is going to buy Anhesuer-Busch InBev’s canning operations gave the stock a 6% boost today. BLL closed up $2.69 at $47.85.

Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS)
Positive words from Credit Suisse on the company’s outlook pushed shares up 5.7%. JNS ended the trading session at $12.05, a gain of 65 cents.

Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM)
Akamai shares gained 5.5%, or $1.06, to end Wednesday at $20.24.

Losers

American International Group Inc. (AIG)
A reverse stock-split and an erroneous delisting posting by the NYSE did not please investors as the insurer fell 22.1% on Wednesday. AIG closed down $5.12 at $18.08.

Varian Medical Systems Inc. (VAR)
Shares of the cancer technology manufacturer fell 6.2% on Wednesday. VAR ended the session with a $2.18 loss, settling at $32.96.

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS)
Analysts warned that competition for the wireless communications provider would increase. Shares reflected the news, closing down 5.1%, or 68 cents, to $12.63.

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. (CBG)
News of trouble in its Russian real estate interests cost the stock 4.6% on Wednesday. CBG last traded at $8.93, a loss of 43 cents.

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S)
The phone company started the quarter with a dud as shares lost 4.2%, or 20 cents, and closed at $4.61.