S&P 500 ends at five-month high on financial, industrial gains

US stock indices closed the third session of the week mixed but mostly higher, with finance and industrial shares buoying S&P 500 to five-month highs, with Dow Jones marking gains for the fifth straight session, while NASDAQ bucked the trend to end flat. 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wrapped up the second half of his Congressional testimony today, where he reiterated his belief in the strong performance of US economy, while the second-quarter earnings season for major American banks and corporations carries on. 

Earlier US housing data were disappointing, while the Federal Reserve released its Beige Book, upon which policymakers depend for their deliberations and decisions to support and stimulate the economy, with the next Federal Open Market Committee's meeting scheduled for late July. 

Indices, Commodities 

Dow Jones rose 0.32%, or 79.40 points to 25,199.29, while Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.22%, or 6.07 points to 2,815.62. NASDAQ Composite slipped 0.01%, or 0.67 points to 7,854.44. 

Gold futures due on August 15 rose 0.03% to $1,227.70 an ounce from the opening of $1,227.30, rebounding from year lows, while the dollar index rose 0.13% to 95.10 from the opening of 94.98, marking three-week highs. 

US crude futures due on August 15 rose 1.19% to $68.89 a barrel from the opening of $68.08, rebounding from June 22 lows, while Brent futures due on September 15 advanced 1.05% to $72.92 a barrel from the opening of $72.16.