Tech stocks: Microsoft rises on upbeat earnings

One PC giant is on the rise, while two others are headed downward. Let's take a look at the tech stocks to watch on Friday.

Microsoft jumps after earnings. Shares of the personal computer maker is up 3% in pre-market trading off a solid third-quarter earnings report.

The company says they pulled in $6.06 billion in profits for the third quarter, above investor expectations, off $20.5 billion in revenue. Microsoft also revealed chief financial officer Peter Klein will depart at the end of the fiscal year.

Dell, HP drop. Meanwhile, Dell shares have fallen more than 3% after Blackstone Group dropped its bid to buy the troubled PC maker.

According to the AP, a letter from Blackstone cites a plunge in PC shipments and Dell's financial profile as reasons for nixing their buyout proposal.

Fellow PC maker Hewlett-Packard is also down early, dipping 2.7%.