Stocks climbed yesterday with the technology sector extending Friday's rally, as the nation's top court prepared to give a ruling on Florida election ballots that could decide the next US president. Investors were betting the US Supreme Court's decision on what should count as a legitimate vote in Florida's disputed election would put an end to five weeks of wrangling over the White House.

Financial stocks traded higher on expectations that the US Federal Reserve Bank was finished with its interest-rate increases, and may in the New Year begin cutting rates to stimulate growth.

The world's No. 1 semiconductor maker, Intel, was among the Nasdaq's most heavily traded shares with a gain of $3-7/16, or more than 10 per cent, at $37-7/16 after it unveiled the smallest and fastest transistor and investors shrugged off its warning of weak sales last week.