Lower Oil Prices, Intel Help Stocks Rise  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were higher on Thursday,  helped by technology shares like Microsoft Corp. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=MSFT.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;MSFT.O&lt;/A&gt; and  Intel Corp. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=INTC.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;INTC.O&lt;/A&gt;, which received a brokerage upgrade, and  crude oil prices dropping below \$48 a barrel.