Wall Street ends at fresh record highs, buoyed by energy sector

US stock indices closed the first session of this week at fresh record highs for Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ, led by energy stocks after crude prices rallied 1%, as markets price in the Iraqi federal government's move to seize crude oil fields in Kirkuk, in a direct challenge to the Kurdistan region authorities

Earlier US data showed the Empire State Manufacturing Index rose to 30.2 in October from 24.4 in September, passing expectations of 20.3. 

US president Donald Trump said in earlier remarks that he's looking seriously into ways to cut government spending, aiming particularly at reforming the welfare system, and mentioning that some people misuse the system for their own interests while others can't live a respectable life, railing otherwise against the sharply increasing pharmaceutical drug costs. 

Dow Jones rose 0.19%, or 42.60 points to 22,914.32, while Standard and Poor's 500 added 0.06%, or 1.60 points to 2,554.77. NASDAQ Composite edged up 0.13%, or 8.74 points to 6,614.54. 

Gold futures due on December 16 shed 0.57% to $1,297.10 an ounce from the opening of $1,304.60, as the dollar index rose 0.20% to 93.27 from the opening of 93.09. 

Otherwise, US crude futures due on November 15 muscled up 0.84% to $51.88 a barrel from the opening of $51.41, as Brent crude futures due on December 15 rallied 1.22% to $57.87 a barrel from the opening of $57.17.