Stocks Ended Mixed, Dow Eked out Record Close

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow closing a tick above the flat line while both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 61.97 points, or 0.20%, to 31,437.80. The S&P 500 shed 1.35 points, or 0.03%, to 3,909.88. The Nasdaq Composite fell 35.16 points, or 0.25%, to 13,972.53.

Oil futures climbed Wednesday, with a nearly seven million-barrel weekly drop in U.S. crude supplies and expectations for another large round of government spending prompting prices to extend a winning streak that began at the start of February. West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery rose 32 cents, or nearly 0.6%, to settle at $58.68 a barrel. April Brent crude added 38 cents, or 0.6%, at $61.47 a barrel.