The Dow Jones is inching back into record highs on Friday. The index continues to find play above 42,000 in the post-Fed glut. The Dow Jones stock index rose up to 100 points, or 0.25%, during Friday trading.

U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Technology, Industrials and Basic Materials sectors led shares higher. At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.

There Are 4 Dividend Kings That Are Also in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Here's Why 3 of Them Just Hit All-Time Highs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has pulled into Wednesday’s midrange near 41,500 as investors await the Federal Reserve's (Fed) first rate cut in over four years. Markets kicked off 2024 hoping for an initial rate cut in March, but have thus far been battled all the way back to Q3. Now it finally looks like the Fed is ready to play ball.

So if the earnings growth rate of Nasdaq stocks slows due to a downturn in the business cycle or any number of unforeseen factors, the Nasdaq could continue underperforming the S&P 500 because it is valued more on future earnings than historical earnings.

Despite some securities stuck stubbornly in the red, most of the Dow Jones board is deep in the green on Thursday. Salesforce (CRM) and Caterpillar (CAT) have climbed over 5% from the morning’s open,