Pharmaceuticals stocks were among the better performers on Wednesday after fourth-quarter sales from sector giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) impressed.GSK, which has a market capitalisation of over £76bn, said that turnover edged up 2% to £6.9bn in the last three months of 2013; ahead of analysts who had expected a figure closer to £6.84bn. Core earnings per share dropped at a year-on-year rate of 7% to 30.1p, but this was broadly in line with forecasts.The guidance for 2014 came in a little light of expectations; however, this didn't seem to dampen investors' spirits with shares up 1.5% at 1,577p before the close.Smaller peer AstraZeneca, valued at nearly £49bn, was trading 0.5% higher ahead of its own fourth-quarter results due out tomorrow.AIM-listed pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals edged higher in afternoon trade after saying that its lead epilepsy product candidate, Epidiolex, has the potential to meet "significant unmet needs" in the treatment of childhood epilepsy syndromes.The comments came alongside its first quarter results in which it said that revenues jumped to £7.5m from £5.2m the year before, while pre-tax losses widened from £2.1m to £2.8m.Top performing sectors so far todayIndustrial Metals & Mining 1,048.62 +1.50%Forestry & Paper 10,108.92 +1.35%Electricity 9,066.52 +1.27%Technology Hardware & Equipment 1,079.76 +1.27%Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 11,972.08 +1.20%Bottom performing sectors so far todaySoftware & Computer Services 1,153.34 -1.24%Mobile Telecommunications 5,022.37 -1.22%Electronic & Electrical Equipment 4,255.90 -1.05%Tobacco 32,889.55 -0.90%Chemicals 10,656.67 -0.52%BC