Strong earnings likely to drive stocks higher (AP)

By MATTHEW CRAFT, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK ? Stocks look ready to push higher on better-than-expected earnings results from Apple Inc., General Electric Co. and Morgan Stanley.

General Electric and Morgan Stanley reported quarterly results Thursday morning that beat analysts' expectations. Apple also beat estimates for both sales and profits. All three are up more than 3 percent in pre-market trading.

Better earnings drove the Dow Jones industrial average to a new 2011 high Wednesday.

The Labor Department will report on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. Economists expect applications fell, after an unexpected rise the previous week.

Dow futures are up 70 points, or 0.6 percent, at 12,466. S&P 500 futures are up 9 points, or 0.7 percent, at 1,337. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 27 points, or 1.1 percent, at 2,381.

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