S&P 500 closes at the highest since early February

US stock indices closed the third session of the week higher, with S&P 500 climbing for the fourth straight session to the highest since early February, following strong earnings results for Pepsi, which whetted market appetite as the second-quarter earnings season gears up. 

Otherwise, earlier US data showed the JOLTS Job Openings fell to 6.64 million in May from 6.84 million in April, missing expectations of 6.88 million. 

Indices, Commodities 

Dow Jones rose 0.58%, or 143.07 points to 24,919.66, while Standard and Poor's 500 added 0.35%, or 9.67 points to 2,793.84. NASDAQ Composite inched up 0.04%, or three points to 7,759.20. 

Gold futures due on August 15 shed 0.30% to $1,255.80 an ounce from the opening of $1,259.60, while the dollar index rose 0.05% to 94.13 from the opening of 94.08. 

US crude futures due on August 15 rose 0.49% to $74.21 a barrel from the opening of $73.85, while Brent futures due on September advanced one percent to $78.85 a barrel from the opening of $78.07, marking June 29 highs.