New York  - Major US stock indices made strong gains on Thursday, led by technology and financial gains that overshadowed a major bankruptcy in the US housing market.

JPMorgan Chase & Co reported a better-than-expected 2.1-billion- dollar profit for the first quarter, offering more hope for the ailing financial sector. Wells Fargo & Co and Goldman Sachs Inc offered similar surprises earlier this week.

Hewlett-Packard reportedly claimed the top spot in the US personal computer market over Dell Inc, according to research firm Gartner Inc, leading technology shares to a strong rally on the day.

Stocks had been pulled down earlier by more negative news from the US property market, the epicentre of the economic crisis. General Growth Properties Inc filed for bankruptcy protection, becoming the largest ever US real-estate firm to do so.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 95.81 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 8,125.43 points. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 13.24 points, or 1.55 per cent, to 865.30. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index increased 43.64 points, or 2.68 per cent, to 1,670.44.

The US currency rose against the euro to 75.89 euro cents from 75.68 euro cents on Wednesday. The dollar inched lower against the Japanese currency to 99.38 from 99.39 yen. (dpa)