US stock indices edge up, Dow Jones heads for fifth straight session

US stock indices rose marginally on Tuesday amid focus on earnings results, with optimism about the Fed’s monetary policy prospects.

Recent US payrolls data showed a marked slowdown in the labor sector, which boosted the odds of multiple Fed interest rate cuts this year.

A batch of major tech companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Meta, all reported strong profits and earnings in the first three months of 2024. 

On trading, Dow Jones rose 0.2%, or 65 points to 38917, while S&P 500 rose 0.2%, or 13 points to 5193, as NASDAQ added 0.2%, or 30 points to 16,379.