Nasdaq Hit Record on Strong Economic Data

U.S. stocks closed mostly higher on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq Composite notching a record for a second straight day, as large technology stocks advanced. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 13.71 points, or 0.06%, to 24,799.98. The S&P 500 gained 1.93 points, or 0.07%, to 2,748.80. The Nasdaq Composite added 31.40 points, or 0.41%, to 7,637.86.

Oil prices finished higher Tuesday, as traders looked ahead to an expected decision by major producers to increase their crude output. July West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on 77 cents, or 1.2%, to settle at $65.52 a barrel. August Brent crude climbed by 9 cents, or 0.1%, to end at $75.38 a barrel.

U.S. job openings unexpectedly rose to a fresh record in April and further exceeded the number of unemployed workers, Labor Department data showed Tuesday. The number of positions waiting to be filled increased by 65,000 to 6.7 million, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS.

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in May for the 100th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.