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Markets Right Now: After a stumble, stocks end a bit higher

Jan 31, 2018 | 6:45 AM

NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4 p.m.

Stock indexes ended slightly higher on Wall Street after overcoming a brief stumble in the afternoon.

The dip Wednesday came after the Federal Reserve released its latest statement on interest rate policy and the economy. The Fed, as expected, held off on raising interest rates.

Losses in health care stocks were offset by gains in technology companies and other sectors.

Boeing jumped 4.9 per cent after reporting sharply higher profits in its latest quarter.

The market was coming off a two-day losing streak and its biggest drop since August.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 1 point, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,823.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 72 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 26,149. The Nasdaq climbed 9 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,411.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks moved higher in midday trading after several big U.S. companies reported strong quarterly results.

Boeing jumped 6 per cent Wednesday. The aerospace giant has been the biggest gainer in the Dow Jones industrial average over the past year.

Technology companies accounted for much of the gain, outweighing losses in health care and other sectors.

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices rose 5.1 per cent and Electronic Arts rose 7.6 per cent.

The market was coming off a two-day losing streak and its biggest drop since August.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 4 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,826.

The Dow rose 134 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 26,209. The Nasdaq climbed 14 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7,416.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.74 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening solidly higher on Wall Street after a number of big U.S. companies reported strong quarterly earnings.

Boeing jumped 6 per cent in early trading Wednesday. The aerospace giant has been the biggest gainer in the Dow Jones industrial average over the past year.

Xerox rose 10.5 per cent after reporting a strong quarter of its own. Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices rose 4.7 per cent and Electronic Arts rose 8.6 per cent.

The early gains recovered some of the ground the market lost a day earlier, when it had its biggest drop since August.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 15 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 2,837.

The Dow rose 238 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 26,318. The Nasdaq climbed 48 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 7,451.

The Associated Press