Oracle Lifts Stock Markets; Kroger Sees Sales Soar Again

Friday brought a solid advance for the stock market, as investors went into the last day of the week on a positive note. Despite ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, bargain-hunters seemed to carry the day, sending major market benchmarks higher. Just before 11:30 a.m. EDT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) was up 215 points to 27,750. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) gained 18 points to 3,357, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) picked up 34 points to 10,954.

Earnings continued to be newsmakers for individual stocks. Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) gained ground after its latest results confirmed the upbeat view that many tech companies have seen lately. Kroger (NYSE: KR) also saw continued sales gains, but investors weren't quite as optimistic about the stock's prospects for future advances.

Shares of Oracle climbed 2% after having been substantially higher earlier in the morning session. The software applications provider enjoyed solid results in the first quarter of its 2021 fiscal year.

Source Fool.com