New York shares across the board have started strongly as blue-chip issues rally, despite some concerns over high-technology stocks.

The leading Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 51 points at 9,235 at 1430 GMT, an hour after opening. The S&P 500 index had added 7 points and the New York Composite index was 2 points ahead.

Shares of International Business Machines (IBM) are up1 at 184, while Microsoft has gained 1 7/8 to 142 7/8, even though the software sector figured to face some challenges after enterprise software giant SAP warned that its profits weren't going to be as strong as expected. However, Lehman Brothers boosted its price target on Microsoft, giving the stock some support.

Meanwhile, blue-chip issues received another lift from strength in AT&T. The stock, which raced to a 52-week high in Monday's trading, has advanced another 1 1/2 to 79 3/8. Boeing is stronger as well, and other blue-chip names have posted gains.

The Nasdaq Composite Index has managed to post a 5 point advance, even though some key names in the high-tech sector, such as Intel, are modestly lower.