Slight Gains in U.S. Stocks Lift Dow, S&P, Nasdaq to New Highs

Wall Street capped a day of mostly listless trading Tuesday with a slight gain, good enough to lift the major U.S. stock indexes to another set of all-time highs.

Banks, insurers and other financial companies led the gainers. Technology companies also helped lift the market. Health care stocks lagged the most, pulling down insurers, hospital operators and other companies as a Republican effort to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law appeared to gain momentum. Oil prices fell.

Trading was subdued overall as investors looked ahead to Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve was expected to deliver an update on the central bank’s view of the economy and the timing of its plans to raise interest rates and shrink its bond holdings.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 2.78 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,506.65. The index, regarded as the broadest measure of the stock market, has hit a record high three days in a row.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 39.45 points, or 0.2 percent, to 22,370.80. The average is on a six-day streak of new highs.

The Nasdaq composite added 6.68 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,461.32. The tech-heavy index also notched a new high, its first since last Wednesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks declined 0.68 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,440.40.

Bond prices fell Tuesday, sending the yield on the 10-year Treasury note up to 2.25 percent from 2.23 percent late Monday.

Speculation that the Fed will announce plans to unwind its bond portfolio helped lift shares in banks and other financial companies. Such a move by the Fed would likely push long-term interest rates up. Banks benefit from higher rates, which can translate into higher profits from lending money. U.S. Bancorp added 78 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $53.16. Wells Fargo & Co. rose 65 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $53.36.

Traders were less enthused by word that the Federal Trade Commission signed off on a deal for Walgreens Boots Alliance to buy 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.19 billion. That amounts to a much smaller deal than the companies originally sought when Walgreens pushed to buy Rite Aid. The companies abandoned that deal following opposition from regulators. Rite Aid shares lost 33 cents, or 12.1 percent, to $2.40. Walgreens slid $1.39, or 1.7 percent, to $81.21.

Energy futures closed lower.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell 43 cents, or 0.9 percent, to settle at $49.48 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gave up 34 cents, or 0.6 percent, to close at $55.14 a barrel in London.

Wholesale gasoline slid 1 cent to $1.66 a gallon. Heating oil fell 1 cent to $1.77 a gallon. Natural gas declined 2 cents to $3.12 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In metals trading, gold slipped 20 cents to $1,310.60 an ounce. Silver gained 12 cents to $17.28 an ounce. Copper held steady at $2.97 a pound.

The dollar rose to 111.50 yen from 111.47 yen on Monday. The euro strengthened to $1.1997 from $1.1953.

Global shares were mixed Tuesday. In Europe, Germany’s DAX was flat, while France’s CAC 40 rose 0.2 percent. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares gained 0.3 percent.