Wall St. ends modestly higher as the week wraps up

U.S. stock indices closed higher for the fourth straight session, recovering most of the post-Brexit losses as investors bet on near stimulus measures from global central banks, while following a bunch of data from the U.S. today that showed a drop in the final reading of the manufacturing index in June, but conversely, the ISM manufacturing index jumped past expectations in the same month, while manufacturing prices fell unexpectedly, as construction spending fell as well in May. 

Dow Jones closed up 0.11%, or 19.38 points at 17,949.37, while Standard and Poor's 500 gained 0.19%, or 4.09 points to 2,102.95. NASDAQ Composite jumped 0.41%, or 19.89 points to 4,862.57. 

The dollar index, gauging the greenback's performance versus a basket of six major currencies, fell to 95.64 from the opening of 95.88, with an intraday low at 95.41, and a high at 96.08. 

On another note, gold futures due on August 15 surged 1.73% to $1,343.50 an ounce from the opening price of $1,320.60, while U.S. crude futures due on August 15 added 1.74% to $49.17 a barrel from the opening of $48.33. Brent crude futures due on August 15 tumbled 1.84% to $49.68 a barrel from the opening price of $50.61.