US stocks rallied on Friday, with the Dow coming within 50 points of the 13,000 mark, as stronger-than-expected earnings from companies including Google Inc and Caterpillar Inc eased investor nervousness over quarterly results.
Dow component Caterpillar, a manufacturer of heavy construction and mining equipment, also raised its outlook and said growth outside North America was offsetting weakness in the US housing and truck engine markets. A jump in crude oil prices lifted shares of energy companies including Exxon Mobil Corp, aiding the rally.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 129.21 points, or 1.01 percent, at 12,937.84. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 10.85 points, or 0.74 percent, at 1,481.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 20.68 points, or 0.83 percent, at 2,526.03. The Dow hit an intraday record high at 12,950.44 during morning trading, and so far this month has closed higher in all but one session.
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