Around the World's Markets: New York

US STOCKS rose, led by computer-related shares, after analysts predicted that Microsoft and MCI WorldCom will soar as the companies' earnings growth beats that of other members of the Standard & Poor's 500 index.

The Dow Jones rose 1.4 per cent to 9,311.19, after climbing to within 45 points of its 23 November high. The Nasdaq jumped 2 per cent to 2,251.27, also an all-time high. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 1.4 per cent to a record 1,244.77.