DOW JONES

On Friday, the DJIA came within less than 200 points of its record high following the latest nonfarm payrolls report.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund rose 21.81 percent, while the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund fell 1.83 percent.

Robert Thomson, managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, is expected to head News Corp.'s newly created publishing company.

Arguments between Microsoft Corp and Google's Motorola Mobility in long running patent trial over sharing of technology that can put brakes on patent warfare ended Tuesday.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Monday were Alliance One International, AU Optronics Corp, Dole Food Co, Tenet Healthcare Corp and KKR Financial Holdings LLC. The top after-market NYSE losers were HNI Corp, Advanced Micro Devices, Steelcase Inc, ExactTarget and K12 Inc.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Monday after the rally seen last week following the announcement of the Federal Reserve's plan to buy mortgage securities.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI: DJI) gained another 53.51 points, or 0.40 percent, on Friday to close at 13,593.37, the highest level in nearly five years. However, many uncertainties remain. Here are four factors that could make -- or break -- the Dow's continued ascent.

Agnico-Eagle Mines, ICICI Bank, Alcatel Lucent SA, Nokia Corp, ArcelorMittal, Facebook Inc, United States Steel Corp, Werner Enterprises and Western Digital Corp. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Friday.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Friday as investors kept up a buoyant mood following the announcement of quantitative easing measures by the Federal Reserve, which is expected to boost economic growth.

The four-week average of initial U.S. jobless claims rose last week to its highest level in nearly two months, yet another indication of the nation's anemic job creation ability.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Thursday as investors maintained a cautious mode ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting in which there is the likelihood of another round of quantitative easing measures to be announced to invigorate the economy.

One of the best-performing sectors this year was also one of the hardest hit by the recession: homebuilders, whose stocks have outpaced the broader market with a modest rebound in home prices and increased demand for properties, but much of recovery has unevenly benefited the luxury sector.

Far-right Dutch politician and leader of the ultra-conservative Freedom Party (PVV) Geert Wilders formerly established his party in parliament on a platform of Islamophobic anti-immigration, and now seeks to turn nationalist sentiment against the eurozone amid frustrations with debt-laden countries like Greece, Italy and Spain. Poll indicate his party will lose seats this election, but it has defied expectations in the past.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Wednesday as investor confidence was underpinned by expectation that the Federal Reserve will announce stimulus measures this week to invigorate the economy and boost growth.

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Tuesday as investor sentiment turned positive amid hopes that the Federal Reserve would announce monetary easing measures this week to revive the economic growth momentum.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Friday ahead of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' nonfarm payrolls and unemployment reports.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Thursday as investor sentiment was underpinned by the expectation that the European Central Bank would announce stimulus measures to ease the euro zone debt burden.

Railroad executives said Wednesday that they are not expecting strong growth in cargo volume in the pre-holiday shopping season, but most future holiday gifts are delivered by trucks.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open Wednesday as investor confidence continued to be weighed down by high degree of uncertainty about policymakers announcing stimulus measures to revive economic growth momentum.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Tuesday as market sentiment was underpinned by expectations that policymakers around the world will announce stimulus measures to rejuvenate the economic growth momentum.

U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium where he is expected to announce another round of monetary easing.