UPDATE

Stocks rose on Friday, led by technology shares after a surprise takeover proposal in the software sector, data pointing to strength in consumer spending and a brighter outlook from McDonald's Corp.

Stocks inched higher on Tuesday as investors bet that quarterly earnings reports, which begin later on Tuesday, would beat estimates and brokerages raised price targets on some of the biggest technology stocks.

Stocks were little changed on Monday as caution before the quarterly earnings reporting season offset a boost from falling crude oil prices.

Blue-chip stocks fell on Tuesday as investors booked profits following a record reached in the previous session, but in the broader market, bank stocks and home builders gained as investors bet the worst of the credit squeeze may be over.

The dollar rose on Tuesday from record lows as investors trimmed bets of further declines in the U.S. currency ahead of key economic data later this week.

Stocks surged on Monday, sending the Dow to a record close on the first trading day of the fourth quarter, as investors bet that Wall Street may have seen the worst of the credit squeeze after three global banks detailed expected losses from the crisis.

The dollar dropped to a record low versus the euro for the seventh consecutive trading session on Friday on expectations that continued weakness in the economy will force U.S. central bankers to continue to provide more motivation to investors by cutting interest rates.

Gold prices leaped to their highest level since 1980 on Friday, as record weakness in the dollar and early strength in crude oil prices led to gains in precious metals.

Oil rose above $83 a barrel on Friday and closed in on an all-time high as fund buying, spurred by a weak dollar, provided support.

Stocks dipped on Friday as money managers locked in profits on the last trading day of a strong September, while concerns surfaced about the strength of profits during a turbulent third quarter. Shares of technology, energy and material companies fell as investors took profits on the best-performing sectors for September, traditionally one of the weakest months for stocks.

The dollar sank to new depths against the Euro on Thursday, the sixth straight trading session of new lows against the currency.

Stocks gained on Wednesday as a tentative labor agreement at General Motors Corp eased worries about Detroit's automakers and more weak economic data added to expectations for another cut in interest rates.

Stocks slipped on Monday as concern about the impact of the housing slump and credit squeeze hurt shares of financial companies.

General Motors Corp workers at plants in Michigan, Ohio and Kansas began walking off the job and organizing pickets as a national strike against the automaker began on Monday.

Investors continued to flock to Gold on Thursday sending it to another 27-year high on Thursday amid expectations of continuing lower U.S. interest rates brought on by a tough credit market and a weak outlook for the slumping U.S. dollar.

Oil hovered around $82 a barrel on Thursday as sinking U.S. crude inventories and the threat of a storm gathering near Florida increased worries of a winter supply crunch in the world's top consumer.

Stocks were little changed on Thursday as a weak outlook from economic bellwether FedEx and sharply lower profit from investment bank Bear Stearns helped stall a rally that followed this week's aggressive interest rate cut.

The dollar broke above $1.40 per euro for the first time on Thursday, weakened by a hefty U.S. interest rate cut this week and expectations of further cuts in benchmark rates.

Spot gold prices surged to a 28-year high in European trade on Thursday, as the dollar sank to record lows against the euro and oil traded near all-time highs -- raising the precious metal's appeal for investors.

Gold prices continued to advance Wednesday on expectations that lower interest rates will weaken the dollar, increasing the desirability of alternative investments.

U.S. gold futures rose early on Wednesday on strong follow-through buying and inflationary worries, extending gains from Tuesday when gold contracts surged to a 28-year high after the Federal Reserve half-percentage point rate cut.