Google’s stock soars after positive earnings report

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Investors appear ready to embrace Google Inc. again after weeks of hand wringing over whether the faltering U.S. economy would bog down the Internet search leader’s moneymaking machine.

Google won back Wall Street with first-quarter earnings and revenue growth that surpassed analysts’ predictions, propelled by an aggressive push outside the United States.

The pleasant surprise, delivered late Thursday, lifted Google’s recently sagging shares by 20 percent to $539.41 in trading Friday.