Strong profit reports by Microsoft and Sun Microsystems fuelled another strong day for technology stocks, leading most market measures farther into record terrain yesterday.

The Dow Jones industrial average never strayed as much as 30 points all day, but finished nine points higher at nearly 9,338, padding Thursday's record.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index, which on Thursday crossed 2,000 for the first time, rose to an eighth straight record close.

Smaller-company shares lagged the blue-chips, with decliners outnumbering advancers.

The flow of second-quarter profit news remained encouraging with late Thursday's reports from Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and PepsiCo, all of which topped Wall Street forecasts.