Tech shares stronger in day of weak gains

NEW YORK - Stocks gave up most of Friday's gains to end the day slightly higher, extending a September rally that has slowed as the month wears on.

The Dow Jones industrial average tacked on 13 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose less than a point. Both traded close to the break-even level all day. The Dow and other major indexes logged their third straight weekly advance.

The market started on an up note after surprisingly strong profit news late Thursday from technology leaders Oracle Corp. and Research in Motion Ltd., which makes BlackBerrys.

Technology and industrial shares were broadly higher, though energy companies were weak after a drop in crude oil. A decline in a measure of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan/Reuters also kept a lid on buying. Gold set another record and Treasury prices edged higher in a sign that investors remain cautious.

The Dow rose 13.02, or 0.1 percent, to close at 10,607.85. The Dow is up 5.9 percent for the month, defying skeptics who predicted a decline in September, which is historically a weak month for stocks. It has risen in seven of the last eight days.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index inched up 0.93, or 0.08 percent, to 1,125.59, and the Nasdaq composite rose 12.36, or 0.5 percent, to 2,315.61.

In corporate news, Oracle reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that easily topped forecasts after the market closed Thursday. Shares jumped $2.12, or 8.4 percent, to $27.48.

Research in Motion also reported a big jump in earnings as it added subscribers. Investors have been worried about competition to the BlackBerry from Apple Inc.'s iPhone and mobile phones run on Google Inc.'s Android technology. Shares closed up 23 cents at $46.72.