Dow ahead as FTSE hits year-high

US stocks advanced for a fourth session as investors cheered a surprise rise in home sales in July. The main Dow Jones index added almost 1% in early exchanges to trade at 9,440.96, led by chemical firm Du Pont, up 2.38% to $32.70. General Electric and Bank of America were also in favour, both up more than 2%. Meanwhile, in the UK, the FTSE 100 extended morning gains to add 89.25 points (1.88%) to 4845.83 at 3.30pm. It's the first time the index has passed through the 4,800 mark since October last year as hopes for an economic recovery gather pace. A rally in British Airways s...