Wall Street ends higher as tech, energy lead charge

US stock indices closed the second session of the week higher with tech and energy shares leading the charge higher, overcoming concerns about the escalating US-China trade dispute. 

China said it'll ask the World Trade Organization for permission to sanction the US for violation of a ruling about dumping duties, while the New York Times reported that US administration is studying economic sanctions on Beijing for human rights violations. 

On another front, the Republican Party has launched its Congress re-election campaign by announcing another round of tax cuts, while also making individual tax cuts permanent. 

Otherwise, earlier US data showed wholesale inventories rose 0.6%, compared to a 0.1% increase in June, while an index tracking job opportunities rose to 6.94 million from 6.82 million in June.

Indices, Commodities 

Dow Jones rose 0.44%, or 113.99 points to 25,971.06, while Standard and Poor's 500 climbed 0.37%, or 10.76 points to 2,887.89. NASDAQ Composite advanced 0.61%, or 48.31 points to 7,972.47. 

Gold futures due in December rose 0.12% to $1,201.20 an ounce, while the dollar index inched up 0.09% to 95.23 against a basket of major rivals. 

US crude futures due in October rose 0.32% to $69.36 a barrel, while Brent futures due in November rallied 2.27% to $79.13 a barrel, as Hurricane Florence strengthens and barrels alongside the US eastern coast.