STOCKS posted solid gains on Wall Street yesterday but a sharper rally stalled as the focus turned from corporate profits to next week's potential minefield of economic data.

The positive tone of Thursday's rally, spurred by an encouraging earnings report from IBM, was reinforced by a strong profit report from Gateway 2000.

But although the latest earnings news calmed the computer industry worries that helped push the market into a tailspin last week, investors were too hesitant over possible surprises in next week's economic data to establish big positions.