Investors nudge rally forward with modest gains
NEW YORK -- The market Tuesday took a break from a three-week rally.
Stocks posted modest gains following a surge that pushed the Standard & Poor's 500 index above 1,000 on Monday for the first time since November.
Reports showing an uptick in consumer spending and a fifth straight monthly increase in pending home sales gave investors new signals that the economy is stabilizing.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 33.63, or 0.4%, to 9,320.19. The S&P 500 index rose 3.02, or 0.3%, to 1,005.65. The Nasdaq composite index rose 2.70, 0.1%, to 2,011.31.
Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume came to 1.2 billion shares.
The market found more good news in Caterpillar's confirmation that cost cuts and other initiatives will enable the heavy equipment maker to post profits over the long term no matter the pace of the economic recovery.
The world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment is considered a bellwether of the global economy. Shares of the Dow component rose more than 4%.
Even with mostly upbeat economic news, investors looked to lock in some profits following a 14% climb in the S&P 500 index and the Dow since July 10.
"There is a lot of concern that the market has moved too far too fast and that we've gotten ahead of the economy," said Brian Bush, director of equity research at Stephens Inc. "So there may be a pause here."
Analysts generally believe the market's near-term trajectory is upward, with investors seeing dips as an opportunity to put money to work.
Financial, industrial and consumer discretionary stocks were among the best performers as investors placed bets on areas of the market that stand to benefit the most when the economy is growing again.
Investors have seen better-than-expected corporate earnings reports and encouraging outlooks this summer as well as improvements in manufacturing and housing. Those promising signs have driven hopes that the nearly two-year-long recession is coming to an end, pushing stocks up to levels not seen since last fall.
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