year Treasury note steady at 4.51 percent from late Thursday. The dollar rose against most major currencies, while gold prices also moved higher. Persistent fears of increasing unrest in oil-producing regions sent crude oil futures higher. A barrel of light crude was quoted at $67.40, up $1.14, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earnings were once again positive, helping the market overcome last week's disappointments. Microsoft climbed $1.21 to $27.71 after seeing its quarterly profits grow 5 percent for the quarter. The software company said new server products helped boost sales, and with a new Windows operating system coming later this year, Microsoft increased its full-year earnings outlook. Procter & Gamble's quarterly earnings rose 29 percent due to strong growth across its businesses, including those gained in its recent acquisition of Gillette Co. P&G, which beat analysts' expectations by 3 cents per share, added 81cents to $59.63. In merger and acquisition news, Mittal Steel Co. jumped $1.68 to $33.98 after it announced a surprise $22.8 billion acquisition offer for European rival Arcelor SA, a move that would substantially increase production for the world's largest steel company. Dow industrial Pfizer Inc. has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a drug designed to combat stomach and kidney cancers. Pfizer rose 72 cents to $25.77.
