国际英语新闻：Dow tops 11,000 benchmark for first time in 18 months

NEW YORK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Dow Jones average index topped 11,000 for the first time in 18 months on Friday as earning season to kick off next week.
Wall Street kept its sixth consecutive gain on Friday as worries over Greece waned and market sentiment was boosted by strong wholesale inventories and sales data.

The stocks opened higher in the morning followed European markets as investors were reassured that Greek debt problems were still under control.

Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE)in New York,the United States s,April 9,2010.The Dow Jones average index topped 11000 points for the first time in 18 months on Friday amid intraday trading as earning season to kick off next week

Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said on Friday that Greece isn't planning to activate a joint European Union and International Monetary Fund rescue package outlined last month. Meanwhile, Germany said it saw no reason to doubt that Greece could refinance its debts.

Investors were also encouraged by positive U.S. economic data.

According to the Commerce Department, U.S. wholesale inventories rose 0.6 percent in February while sales of wholesalers were up 0.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted 338.66 billion dollars.