Upbeat earnings are expected to give a big lift to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Thursday, as the rallies in the shares of the Dow components that reported results were accounting for the bulk of gains in Dow futures ahead of the open. Shares of 3M Co. shot up $6.31, or 2.6%, toward a record high in premarket trade, after the industrial and consumer products company beat fourth-quarter profit expectations and raised its outlook. That gain would add about 43 points to the Dow’s price. Caterpillar Inc.’s stock climbed $6.53, or 3.9%, in premarket trade after beating earnings expectations and offered upbeat guidance. That price gain would add about 45 points to the Dow’s price. Dow futures were up about 110 points.
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