The Dow Jones Industrial Average was on track Friday afternoon to close above 44,000 for the first time, as the blue-chip stocks gauge headed for a big weekly gain. The Dow was trading around 44,007 as it approached the closing bell,

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 44,000 for the first time Monday, while the S&P 500 topped 6,000 for its own closing milestone as markets awaited key inflation data and corporate earnings due later this week.