REDMOND, Wash. — Shares of Microsoft Corp. surged 3.15% to $513.60 in Friday trading, adding $15.67, as the technology giant participated in a broader market rebound tied to easing Treasury yields and growing optimism over a potential diplomatic resolution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, while also continuing to benefit from a recent Wall Street rating upgrade.

Friday's advance marks a sharp rebound from recent trading levels, with the stock climbing from Thursday's close of approximately $497.93. The gains came as the broader U.S. stock market rallied Friday following a difficult stretch earlier in the week, with easing bond yields and reports of progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz helping lift sentiment across technology stocks more broadly.

Microsoft's rally also builds on a positive analyst rating change from earlier in the week. Stifel upgraded its outlook on Microsoft to Buy from Hold on September 23, according to data compiled by Fintel, adding to the stock's momentum heading into Friday's broader market advance.

Despite Friday's sharp gain, Microsoft's stock has posted a notably uneven performance over the trailing year, with shares down roughly 2% over the past twelve months as of recent trading, according to analysis from TipRanks, even as the underlying business has continued posting strong financial........

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