S&P Poised Near All-Time Highs



The S&P 500 was relatively unchanged on Thursday as investors tried to shrug off concerns tied to a U.S. government shutdown that had entered its second day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Index lost 77.25 points to 46,363.85.

The much-broader index deleted 1.41 points to 6,709.79, after Wednesday’s record high,

The tech-heavy NASDAQ climbed 71.84 points to 22,827, ed by a gain in Nvidia shares, which also reached an all-time high, as investors continue to pile into the artificial intelligence giant.

The three major U.S. stock indexes closed in the green on Wednesday on hopes that a federal funding lapse would be brief and therefore limit any serious effects on the U.S. economy.

The S&P 500 notched its 29th closing high of the year, finishing above the 6,700 threshold for the first time, after the index hit a new all-time intraday high earlier in the day. The Dow also saw a record close in the prior session.

An economic data blackout during the shutdown this week is also top of mind, as the September non-farm payrolls report will not be released on Friday given the Labor Department’s pause on virtually all activity.

Prices for the 10-year Treasury dipped, raising yields to 4.11% from Wednesday’s 4.10%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices shed 25 cents to $61.53 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices dished off $1.80 to $3,895.70 U.S. an ounce.