04:06 PM EDT, 04/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity markets ended higher Friday as quarterly earnings from technology heavyweights, including Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Microsoft ( MSFT ) , lifted investor sentiment and the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation in March was in line with market expectations.

* Personal income was up 0.5% in March, as expected in a survey conducted by Bloomberg, following February's 0.3% gain. Personal consumption expenditures increased by 0.8% for the second straight month.

* The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for April was revised lower to 77.2 from the preliminary estimate of 77.9, compared with expectations for no revision in a Bloomberg survey. The current month's reading was below the final reading of 79.4 in March.

* June West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.06 at $83.63 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.29 at $89.30.

* Alphabet (GOOG) jumped nearly 10% after the Google ( GOOG ) parent reported late Thursday a surge in Q1 earnings and revenue.

* Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) shares fell nearly 3% after the company reported lower Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue.