Earnings, Dow Jones | featured news

Caterpillar drove the Dow Jones industrial average higher Friday after the company reported a huge gain in first-quarter earnings. The world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment rose 2.5 percent after its earnings increased more than five-fold. The company also raised its sales and profit forecast for the year.

U.S. markets experienced a steep selloff Friday as disappointing earnings reports from major corporate icons and depressing consumer sentiment report pushed the Dow down 250 points.