DUBAI / Reuters Petrochemicals companies led Gulf stock markets higher on Thursday in response to OPEC’s first agreement on output cuts to prop up oil prices since 2008 — a deal that could allow governments to ease austerity policies slightly. Expectations for the deal had already boosted oil and Gulf bourses on Wednesday, but the agreement included bigger production …

  NEW YORK / AP More gains in Goldman Sachs and Chevron helped pull the Dow Jones industrial average to another record high even as other indexes were flat to lower in early trading on Thursday. Ford and General Motors are rising after they announced strong sales in November. Technology companies and companies that pay big dividends are trading lower. …

  Bloomberg United Continental Holdings Inc. may convert a $12.4 billion order for Airbus Group SE’s largest twin-engine jet to smaller long-range models. It’s also interested in a new Boeing Co. 737 Max that’s still on the drawing board. Those are among the multibillion-dollar changes under consideration as a new management team reviews the Chicago-based carrier’s order portfolio and revamps …