US stocks close in positive zone over improved US-China trade outlook

NEW YORK: Wall Street stocks finished a sleepy holiday-shortened session mostly lower, although the Nasdaq edged to its ninth straight record close.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.1 percent to end the trading day at 28,515.45, while the broad-based S&P lost a hair to close at 3,223.38.

But the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.1 percent to wind up at 8,952.88, yet another all-time high.

Investors have been in a cheery mood most of the fall as the outlook for US-China trade talks improved, reducing uncertainty, and most economic reports have been good.

The day before Christmas is usually the start of a "Santa Claus rally" in stocks, a traditionally robust period for equities when many traders are off for the holidays.

"Investors must feel as if they were extra good this year," said CFRA Research Chief Investment Strategist Sam Stovall, who noted that both stocks and bonds rose solidly in 2019.

But the sleepy session was punctuated by some big developments.

Dow-member Boeing fell 1.4 percent after reports the embattled company sent new documents to the congressional committee investigating its response to two deadly crashes.

The documents "appear to point to a very disturbing picture" about Boeing´s response to safety issues regarding the 737 MAX, an aide to the US House Transportation Committee told AFP.

The company sent the documents to the committee late Monday, hours after announcing it had ousted Dennis Muilenburg as chief executive and installed Chairman David Calhoun in the post. Shares had rallied on the leadership change.

Meanwhile, Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick on Tuesday severed his last ties with the ride-hailing giant, announcing he would exit the board of directors at the end of 2019.

Uber shares gained 0.4 percent.

US financial markets will be closed Wednesday for the Christmas holiday.