Stocks inch up after US growth revised higher

NEW YORK—Slightly better economic growth and stronger housing sales nudged the stock market higher yesterday. The Dow Jones industrial average managed a four-point gain. The US economy expanded at a 1.7 per cent annual rate from April through June thanks to rising consumer spending and exports. That’s an improvement from the initial estimate of 1.5 per cent, but not enough to put a dent in the unemployment rate. The National Association of Realtors said its index of sales for previously owned homes increased 2.4 per cent in July, reaching its highest level since April 2010, the last month buyers could qualify for a federal tax credit. The Dow added 4.49 points to close at 13,107.48.

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 1.19 points to 1,410.49, while the Nasdaq composite index gained 4.05 points to 3,081.19. Crude oil lost 84 cents to finish at US$95.49. Markets have slipped into a late-summer lull. Indexes have barely budged amid some of thinnest trading days this year. After three days of minuscule moves, the S&P 500 index is down less than one point for the week. Just over 10 billion shares have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange over the past four sessions, the slowest stretch since the last four days of 2011. One measure of stock-market volatility, the Vix, recently sank to a five-year low. (AP)