Stocks mostly close higher; Dow sets record

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks mostly finished higher on Wednesday, with the Dow industrials scoring a record closing high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI JIA) gained 128.66 points, or 0.8%, to end at 15,746.88, topping its prior record close on Oct. 29. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (SNC:SPX) advanced 7.52, or 0.4%, to close at 1,770.49. The benchmark index was on track to top its Oct. 29 record close, but didn’t manage to do so after paring some gains. The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ:COMP) bucked the positive trend, closing down 7.92 points, or 0.2%, at 3,931.95. Strategists said there was no specific U.S. event that spurred buying, saying the underlying backdrop for stocks just remains positive.