U.S. stocks rise firmly on Microsoft's strong profit

11:51 am ET Oct 26, 2007

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U.S. stocks rise firmly on Microsoft's strong profit

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks rallied on Friday, with tech stocks leading the charge after
Microsoft Corp.'s earnings flew past analysts' estimates, while shares
of Countrywide Financial Corp. surged on future profit forecasts.

Microsoft shares hit 6-year high on earnings report

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Microsoft Corp. jumped more than 10% Friday to their highest
level in more than six years after the software giant handily beat Wall
Street's expectations for first fiscal quarter earnings.

Merrill Lynch shares leap amid reported furor over CEO

SAN FRANCISCO
Shares of Merrill Lynch & Co. leaped 7% Friday, rallying after a report
that Chief Executive Stan O'Neal expects to be forced out imminently
amid a furor over supposed merger overtures he allowed the bank to
make.

Countrywide reports loss, but stock rallies on improving outlook

BOSTON
Beleaguered mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp. reported Friday
its first quarterly loss in 25 years, a reflection of the turmoil in the
credit markets that's roiled financial-services companies in the U.S.
and elsewhere.