US stocks rose yesterday on the back of a surge in the shares of software giant Microsoft Corporation which was triggered by a trial judge's decision to freeze a set of tough restrictions on its operations.

Microsoft, dogged in recent weeks by antitrust woes, gained $5.75 to $80.68 3/4, contributing about half of the gain in the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average. Its shares had tumbled from a 52-week high of $119.93 3/4 set last December, falling as low as $60.37 1/2 following the judge's April ruling against the company.