Stocks advance, set for best quarter in years Stocks were moving higher Friday after a string of declines, with equities on track for their strongest quarter in more than two years. If could be the best start to the year since 1998 and the index's best quarter since the third period of 2009. "We've had three days of declines, so it isn't surprising to see a bounce today, especially on the last day of the quarter, but the data shows that while the economy is on a decent trajectory, growth may not be as strong as some would like," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at John Thomas Financial in New York. In economic news, a report showed consumer confidence rebounded to its highest level in more than a year in March as optimism about jobs and income overcame higher prices at the gasoline pump. Also, U.S. consumer spending in February increased by the most in seven months, even as personal income rose modestly, which could prompt analysts to scale back expectations of a sharp pullback in growth this quarter. Equities barely moved after the data. Tech shares, which have surged 21.5 percent this quarter, are seen as vulnerable, especially if Apple Inc pulls back. The tech titan is up 51 percent over the same period. U.S.-listed shares rose 1.5 percent to $13.93 in premarket trading, rebounding from earlier declines. Shares of the Dow component rose 0.6 percent to $38.30 before the bell.