Wall Street ends largely higher as eyes fixed on healthcare law

U.S. stock indices closed mixed after erasing earlier losses in the session as markets look forward to the new healthcare law espoused by Republicans in Congress and supported by President Donald Trump, with the voting expected in the House of Representatives tomorrow. 

Yesterday, Wall Street marked the heaviest losses since Donald Trump's presidential win, amid concerns about Trump's slow legislative agenda and the failure to act quickly on his promises to cut taxes and relax banking regulations. 

On the same note, earlier data from the world's largest economy showed the Housing Price Index unchanged in January, compared to a rise in December, while existing home sales fell more than expected in February.

 The EIA released its weekly U.S. inventory report, showing a more than expected buildup, while investors a speech by Fed Chair Yellen tomorrow at the Social Development Studies Conference in Washington. 

Dow Jones closed down 0.03%, or 6.71 points to 20,661.30, while Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.19%, or 4.43 points to 2,348.45. NASDAQ Composite climbed 0.48%, or 27.82 points to 5,821.64. 

Gold futures due on April 15 rose 0.12% to $1,248.00 an ounce from the opening of $1,246.50, while the dollar index fell 0.15% to 99.66 from the opening of 99.72. 

On another note, U.S. crude futures due on May 16 fell 0.19% to $48.15 a barrel from the opening of $48.24, while Brent crude futures due on May 16 tumbled 0.47% to $50.72 a barrel from the opening of $50.96.