Market Watch

Better-than-expected earnings from companies like Microsoft boosted some US stocks on Friday, but most issues drifted lower on light trading. In early trading, the Dow was up 5.92 at 9334.11, and the Nasdaq slipped 4.15 to 1996.41. Europe: Bourses surged to near records on hopes that US interest rates won't rise. France's CAC 40 jumped 24.55 to 4382.68, while Germany's DAX gained 53.85 to 6147.87.

Better-than-expected earnings from companies like Microsoft boosted some US stocks on Friday, but most issues drifted lower on light trading. In early trading, the Dow was up 5.92 at 9334.11, and the Nasdaq slipped 4.15 to 1996.41. Europe: Bourses surged to near records on hopes that US interest rates won't rise. France's CAC 40 jumped 24.55 to 4382.68, while Germany's DAX gained 53.85 to 6147.87.