Technology shares continued to struggle even after a robust profit report from Microsoft Corp.

The Dow gained 44.95 points to close at 6,703.55, bringing the week's advance to about 310 points, or nearly 5 percent.

Broad-market measures also posted modest gains. Notably, however, the Nasdaq composite index failed to rally significantly despite a 10-percent surge by Microsoft, which ended up $9.50 at $107.621/2. The software giant smashed analyst expectations late yesterday by reporting an 85 percent improvement in profits for the first three months of the year.

Advancers led decliners by an 8-to-5 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,520 up, 955 down and 822 unchanged. NYSE volume was 468.16 million shares vs. 502.81 million yesterday.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock list rose 4.57 to 766.34, and the NYSE's composite rose 1.99 to 402.64. The Nasdaq index rose 5.50 to 1,222.57, and the American Stock Exchange composite index rose 0.49 to 556.01.

With little economic news to sharpen the inflation outlook, bond prices were nearly unchanged much of the morning, but moved higher in the afternoon, lowering interest rates.

The benchmark 30-year Treasury bond climbed 13/8 point this week -- $13.75 per $1,000 bond -- in the biggest weekly rally in two months, as reports signaled that the economy may be losing some steam. Yields fell to 7.05 percent from 7.16 percent a week ago.