US stocks end higher

US stock prices have made some solid gains despite another choppy session, with The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day up 54.06, or 0.5%, at 9,845.15.

The Nasdaq composite index climbed 25.36, or 1.5%, to 1,745.72.

The Standard & Poor's 500 advanced 9.15, or 0.8%, to 1,137.58, while the Russell 2000 index rose 7.01 to 441.67.

During the day investors were torn between buying cheaper stocks and shying away from the uncertainty of the high-tech sector.

Analysts' downgrades of Intel and Texas Instruments reminded investors that many companies continue to struggle with slumping demand and the weak economy.

However, investors drew some encouragement from a positive earnings announcement from Amazon.com.

As it wobbled, the market focused on the tech sector after Intel was downgraded by Salomon Smith Barney and Texas Instruments' rating was reduced by Lehman Brothers. Intel fell 43 cents to $23.20, while Texas Instruments dropped 75 cents to $27.51.

However, the market also got a lift from Amazon, which climbed nearly 34%, or $2.81 to $11.18 after announcing it expects to report a smaller loss and higher sales for the first quarter.

Other internet shares rose, including Yahoo!, up 83 cents at $15.64.

Advancing issues matched decliners on the New York Stock Exchange where volume was 990.82 million shares, well below the 1.21 billion on Friday.