https://apnews.com/986bf28a44e74b509f164d0739f30614

Technology companies led broad gains for stocks on Wall Street in morning trading Thursday, extending the market's gains from a day earlier.

Microsoft led the tech stock rally, climbing 2.1%, as traders welcomed the software giant's decision to boost its quarterly dividend and approve a $40 billion stock buyback. Technology is up 31.8% this year, outpacing the other 10 sectors in the S&P 500.