Microsoft rose US$0.96 to US$69. The biggest software maker said fiscal third-quarter profit rose 2.8 percent as business-software sales boosted earnings during a personal-computer industry slump. Sales increased a faster-than-expected 14 percent.
Goldman, Sachs & Co analyst Rick Sherlund raised his rating to "recommended list" from "outperform." Boeing climbed US$1.07 to US$61.70.
The biggest planemaker said first-quarter operating profit more than doubled to US$0.89 a share, US$0.9 higher than analysts expected, as it delivered more commercial aircraft than a year ago.
PMC-Sierra Inc, a maker of chips for communications equipment, surged US$3.41 to US$44.81. Chief Executive Robert Bailey said he expects sales to rebound by the fourth quarter. The company had a first-quarter loss on acquisition-related costs and restructuring charges after a decline in demand.
EBay Inc advanced US$0.66 to US$50.65. First-quarter profit surged as the largest Internet auction site attracted more listings and raised fees. EBay said revenue in the second and third quarters may beat expectations. Revenue rose 79 percent to US$154.1 million, exceeding analysts' forecasts by US$5 million.
Conexant Systems Inc fell US$1.40 to US$11.05. The maker of chips for dial-up modems said third-quarter sales will be flat to lower because customers are depleting their inventories rather than place new orders.
Transmeta Corp, which makes semiconductors for notebook computers, sank US$5.90 to US$18.70 after the company forecast little or no revenue growth in the second quarter from the first.
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