Major stock indexes ended higher Wednesday in a shortened session ahead of a Christmas closure, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 setting new closing records.

U.S. stocks remained higher in midday trading on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 hovering near its intraday record of 6,920, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite were also trading in positive territory.

Stocks surrendered an early surge and briefly dipped into negative territory as Wall Street endured another day of dramatic swings. The S&P 500, which had climbed nearly 4% earlier, gave up most of its gains by early afternoon, rising just 0.2%. The Dow ...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite closed up on Christmas Eve's shortened trading session as the stock market headed for a Santa rally.

Only one of the 11 sectors in the S&P 500 was in the red Monday afternoon, as the stock-market rally broadened. The consumer staples sector fell 3.8 points, or 0.4%, to around 867.7, according to FactSet data.

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The S&P 500 rode thin trading volume on Tuesday to mark its 38th record close of the year. The Santa Claus rally period is on deck.

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