Quest’s Stock Soars on Word of Alliance

Quest Software Inc. of Irvine announced a software-sales alliance with F5 Networks Inc., news that sent its shares up $4.15, or 21%, to $23.76 on Nasdaq.

Shares of Seattle-based F5, which makes software to manage Web traffic, rose 7.8%, or $1.59 a share, to $22.01, also on Nasdaq.

The companies said they are integrating their programs and selling them together to help corporate customers reduce costs. Quest makes products to speed Oracle Corp. database programs.