Stocks edge up for second day, helped by Microsoft

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks ended a choppy, low-volume trading day Thursday with slight gains, as advances in heavily weighted Microsoft Corp. shares and some consumer stocks offset disappointing economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 8.10 points, or 0.1%, at 12,402.76, with percent gainers led by a 2% rally in Microsoft shares. The S&P 500 gained 5.22 points, or ...