witching Friday as August individual equity options and some options on stock indexes stop trading at Friday's close. Typically, options expiration is orderly but some volatility may occur as players unwind those positions against stock and index products. General Motors Corp. weighed on the blue-chip Dow after The Wall Street Journal said some car dealerships are cutting back orders for 2005 models. Shares of GM fell 54 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $41, making it the biggest burden on the Dow. Global oil prices raced to fresh highs on Friday, carrying U.S. crude to $49.40 a barrel before easing to $48.95. Oil prices are being driven by escalating violence in Iraq and unabated demand growth from China and India. Crude prices have set records in 15 of the last 16 sessions. --More 1930 Local Time 1630 GMT
