By Saeed Azhar, Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy NEW YORK (Reuters) -The blue-chip Dow Jones ended higher after hitting an intraday record high on Friday, as UnitedHealth's shares jumped after Berkshire Hathaway raised its stake,

The blue-chip index Dow Jones hit a record high on Friday as UnitedHealth jumped after Berkshire Hathaway raised its stake in the health insurer and on hopes of an Fed interest rate cut in September.

Rising costs in the broader healthcare sector and an about 46% slump in heavyweight UnitedHealth's shares this year have left the Dow lagging its Wall Street peers on the road to record highs. The price-weighted index last scaled an all-time high on December 4.