Investors newly enthusiastic about tech stocks extended the sector’s rally in the United States today after Dell Computer became the second big high-tech firm in as many days to issue a positive earnings outlook.

A warning from Hewlett-Packard about future growth and concerns about weakness in the US banking sector today prompted investors to cash in profits following Wall Street’s four-session advance.

Technology buying boosted the overall US stock market as investor confidence in the sector seemed to be growing.

Profit-taking sent stocks modestly lower yesterday.