Microsoft shares rise after Einhorn's remarks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Shares of Microsoft Corp climbed as much as 2.3 percent on Thursday after influential hedge fund manager David Einhorn called on Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer to step down.

The fund manager, who made his name warning about Lehman Brothers' financial health before the investment bank's collapse, accused the software giant's leader on Wednesday of being stuck in the past.

On Thursday, shares of the world's largest software company were up 1.8 percent at $24.63 in late morning trading after rising as high as $24.75 earlier in the session.

(Reporting by Edwin Chan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)