Dell Keeps Tech Afloat

Updated from 4:16 p.m. EST

Tech shares got a lift from Dell's (DELL Quote) big quarter and blue chips eked out gains as the final full session of the trading week came to a close.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 5.36 points, or 0.04%, to 12,326.95, and the S&P 500 tacked on 3.28 points, or 0.23%, to 1406.09. The Nasdaq Composite was up 11.14 points, or 0.45%, to 2465.98.

Buoying the technology sector was Dell, whose third-quarter profit of $677 million, or 30 cents a share, easily exceeded analysts' estimates. The strength of the report was a surprise, given the fact that it was delayed a week because of a probe into the company's accounting and financials.

Shares of Dell surged following the report, jumping $2.31, or 9.3%, to $27.13.

To close higher, Wall Street had to overcome the sluggishness that followed a slightly soft report on consumer attitudes. The University of Michigan revised its consumer sentiment index for November lower to 92.1, whereas economists had been anticipating a revision to 93.0 from 92.3 earlier in the month.

Following the data, several retailers sank into negative territory. Lowe's (LOW Quote) lost 1.1%, Kohl's (KSS Quote) was down 1.4%, and Walgreen (WAG Quote) was off by 0.4%.

As for other sectors, semiconductors were the big winners. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Sector Index was 1.2% higher. Oil stocks were among the hardest hit, with the Amex Oil Index losing 0.7%.