S&P edges higher amid caution on Trump, trade and Fed

Reuters 

By Shreyashi Sanyal

The benchmark index's bull run has now stretched for 3,453 days, the longest streak by commonly-used definitions, and comes a day after it hit a record intraday high.

Four of the 11 sectors rose, with gaining 1.17 percent as jumped. Retailers rose on and results, but the biggest boost came from technology stocks, which rose 0.47 percent.

On the flip side, the trade-sensitive industrial sector fell 0.64 percent ahead of Sino-U.S. trade talks. The defensive utilities, telecom and dropped between 0.70 percent and 1.63 percent.

Former Trump was found guilty of tax and fraud charges on Tuesday evening, while Trump's former personal pleaded guilty to a range of charges and said he acted at the direction of Trump.

Investors are considering whether the twin setback will hurt the Republican Party's election prospects and widen a criminal probe that has overshadowed Trump's presidency.

Also on tap are the minutes of the Fed's August policy meeting, due at 2:00 p.m. ET (1800 GMT). The report is expected to reaffirm the central bank's commitment to future rate hikes, which Trump has been critical about.

The KBW index was flat.

"Investors are curious to see whether Trump will get involved and try to derail the expected rate hike or will we see the politicization of the Fed," said Josh Jalinski, of in Toms River,

"Since (the S&P) hit a high yesterday, I'd expect some choppiness in trade today, but nothing that would affect the market in the long run."

As the has climbed in the past few days to its record, more stock have been hitting 52-week highs, while there have been no new 52-week lows so far this week.

At 11:43 a.m. EDT the was up 0.75 points, or flat on a percentage basis, at 25,823.04.

The was up 4.48 points, or 0.16 percent, at 2,867.44 and the was up 32.85 points, or 0.42 percent, at 7,892.02.

The consumer discretionary index climbed 0.44 percent. Strong results from retailers and sent their shares to record highs.

was up 5.5 percent after beating quarterly estimates and raising its full-year profit forecast.

surged nearly 8 percent after the promised to cut back and unsuccessful business projects.

rose 5.2 percent and maker jumped 12.8 percent after their results topped Wall Street estimates. Both stocks hit all-time highs.

The S&P index recorded 18 new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 75 new highs and 17 new lows.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.17-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 1.52-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

(Reporting by in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, August 22 2018. 21:33 IST