Stocks Lifted at Open by Blue Chips' Earnings, Dow up 100 Pts.

U.S. Stocks are higher at the Opening Bell with the Dow Industrials up more than 100 points. Caterpillar (CAT) posted much better than expected earnings results before the bell. The heavy machinery maker also raised its full-year outlook. 3M (MMM) was the other blue chip to beat third-quarter profit. The company did however miss on sales. But not all Dow Components posted positive results this morning. AT&T (T) missed estimates and cut its full-year earnings outlook. Earnings news drove General Motors (GM) higher. GM reported Q3 profit fell less than Wall Street had expected. News from the jobs front also lifted investors' spirits. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits edged up a bit last week but the trend still shows a firming labor market.