Dow Jones sets another fresh high

Investors wonder if the Dow Jones will break the 13,000 mark

The Dow Jones has set a fresh closing high - for the third day in a row - helped by strong corporate earnings, edging towards the key 13,000 mark.

The blue-chip index ended the week 153.35 points or 1.2% up at 12,966.29, after Thursday's 12,808.6 close.

Meanwhile the Nasdaq and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at their highest in over six years.

Strong earning reports from Google, McDonald's and Honeywell have all helped to boost investor confidence.

Industrial conglomerate Honeywell's shares ended Friday 4.8% up at $51.40, after better-than-forecast results.

Other gainers included industrial equipment firm Caterpillar, which added 4.6%. Even though the firm's profits declined it raised its forecast for the year.

On Thursday, internet giant Google issued results that showed a 69% rise in profits for the first three months of this year, beating expectations. Its shares ended 2.3% higher.

The Dow Jones has hit more than 30 record closes since October.

Analysts now say it is possible that the index of leading shares will break the critically important 13,000 mark.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 13.62, or 0.93%, to 1,484.35 while the Nasdaq climbed 21.04, or 0.84% to 2,526.39.

These recent climbs contrast with a period of extreme volatility in world markets earlier in the year.