The Dow is still trading above 9,900 in midday dealings as investors show confidence ahead of a flood of results due out this week.

Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and General Electric will all report results this week.

Alcoa, the first to publish third quarter numbers last week, is up again following the better than expected report.

Oil prices above $73 a barrel were bad news for motorists, but good news for investors. Chevron and Exxon Mobil gained ground at the start of trade.

The Dow Jones is up 42 at 9,906, the tech-laced Nasdaq Composite is 8 higher at 2,147, while the broader S&P 500 is 7 better at 1,078.

Black & Decker gained after the tool maker raised its third-quarter earnings forecast, saying it will earn 91 cents a share.

Elsewhere, buy-out giant Blackstone is reportedly planning to list up to eight of its companies and sell at least five others.

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