Stocks soared on Thursday as expectations of reassuring results from bellwethers, including Google, lifted technology shares, while JPMorgan's better-than-expected profit added to bank stabilization hopes.

Investors, encouraged by recent signs the economic slump may be abating, bet that technology earnings would show upside surprises, driving Google's stock up 2.4 percent to $388.74 before the Web search leader's results after the close.

And indeed, Google delivered by reporting a stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit. Its stock popped up 5 percent to $408.00 in after-hours trading.

During the regular session, Hewlett-Packard rose 5 percent to $36.60, while International Business Machines Corp gained 2.6 percent to $101.43. On Nasdaq, Apple Inc shares climbed 3.2 percent to $121.45. The semiconductor index <.SOXX> rose 3.4 percent.

People are starting to feel that maybe there's a slight chance this is not just a bear market rally, said John O'Brien, senior vice president at MKM Partners LLC in Cleveland, referring to the market's 28 percent rebound since the 12-year closing low of March 9.

People are anticipating a pretty good number from Google, O'Brien told Reuters ahead of Google's earnings report. They seem to like to under-promise and over-deliver.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 95.81 points, or 1.19 percent, to 8,125.43. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 13.24 points, or 1.55 percent, to 865.30. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> jumped 43.64 points, or 2.68 percent, to 1,670.44.

Before the bell, JPMorgan's results beat analysts' expectations as debt trading and underwriting revenue surged. For details, see [ID:nN16542451] The news got Wall Street's day off to a solid start, adding to a string of encouraging results from other banks, including Wells Fargo's strong preliminary figures last week.

Regions Financial said it will post a first- quarter profit, pushing the regional banking company's shares up 34 percent to $6.70.

Shares of JPMorgan climbed 2.1 percent to $33.24, while Citigroup , due to post quarterly results on Friday, rose 1.01 percent to $4.01. The KBW Bank index <.BKX> rose 2.1 percent.

In a sign that investor fear may be receding, the CBOE Volatility Index <.VIX>, or VIX, dropped for a third straight day, hitting its lowest close since late September.

FOR ROSETTA, LIFE BEGINS AT 40

Additionally, Rosetta Stone Inc's strong debut suggested equity investors were becoming more willing to take on risk. Rosetta Stone's initial public offering was only the third to price this month, making April the best month since last July.

Rosetta Stone jumped to $25.12 on the New York Stock Exchange -- up 40 percent from its IPO price of $18. Also boosting sentiment were stronger-than-expected quarterly results from Harley-Davidson Inc , which boosted consumer spending hopes.

The motorcycle maker's shares rose 5.7 percent to $18.11.

Optimism about the technology sector also received a boost from cell phone maker Nokia's after its announcement that a drop in demand for its products was stabilizing, driving its shares up 11.4 percent to $14.88 on the NYSE.

But in one sign of the recession's impact on consumers, General Growth Properties Inc , the second-largest U.S. mall owner, on Thursday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, making it one of the biggest victims of the credit crisis yet.

The day's economic data provided a mixed picture. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's survey of regional manufacturing showed a less drastic contraction, while the Commerce Department data showed March housing starts fell 10.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 510,000 units, the second lowest on record dating back to 1959.

(Editing by Jan Paschal)

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