US stocks rose in a shortened post-Christmas session yesterday as overnight gains in South Korean stocks helped persuade investors to ferret out bargains. The Dow Jones industrial average index ended up 19.19 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 7,679.31.

In the broader market, advancing issues led declines by a 1,441 to 1,198. Volume was thinnest for the year at 156 million shares in a session which ended three hours early at 1 p.m. (1800 GMT).

"The overseas markets, particularly in Korea, had a reasonably good night, and that provided us with the impetus to rally at the open," said Phil Orlando, chief investment officer at Value Line's Asset Management. "But nothing came out of our own market to sustain it."

There was no economic news, and many traders were still away from their desks.

"The market has found its footing here on the lower side," said Michael Metz, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer & Co. "Once the sense of financial crisis has passed, the market can have some sort of bounce, but I don't think you can read too much into today's action."

South Korea's main stock index closed up 6.74 per cent yesterday as investors believed the worst of the financial crisis has passed with fresh International Monetary Fund assistance.

Technology stocks have been pummelled recently because of investor fears their earnings will be crimped by Asia's woes.

Microsoft Corp., which tumbled to a six-month low on Wednesday, regained some ground. The stock, which topped the most active list on the Nasdaq, rose 1-13/16 to 120-3/4.