Tech earnings drive stocks to higher close; Microsoft leads Dow

NEW YORK (AP) — Earnings gains from big U.S. companies are pushing the stock market higher.

Microsoft led the Dow Jones industrial average up after reporting a jump in sales of tablet computers.

The Dow rose 61 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 15,570 Friday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 rose seven points, 0.4 percent, to 1,759, another record high. The S&P also close at a record high Tuesday.

The Nasdaq composite rose 14 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,943.

Technology stocks were among the biggest gainers.

Microsoft rose $2.01, or 6 percent, to $35.73 after beating analysts' forecasts for revenue and earnings. The company is shifting from PC-based software to devices and services.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average.