Blue-chip stocks climbed yesterday on buying that was fueled by a growing sense that the three-week impasse in the US presidential election may be about to end but technology stocks slumped as concerns about earnings resurfaced.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 75.84 at 10,546.07 according to the latest figures. The Dow was pushed higher by retailers Wal-Mart Stores up $4-18 to $49-5/16, Home Depot up $1-3/16 at $381-1/16 as well as financial and pharmaceutical stocks.