Dow surges on Microsoft outlook

Buyers returned to Wall Street in earnest today, lured by Microsoft’s upbeat outlook and lower prices after three days of declines. Investors sent stocks sharply higher, pushing the Dow Jones industrials up nearly 140 points.

“Microsoft is setting the tone. People were looking for that big giant to say something good, and they did,” said Todd Clark, head of listed equity trading at Wells Fargo Securities.