Stocks slightly higher after 4 days of declines

Investors continue to watch Washington budget battle

9/25/2013

NEW YORK — The stock market is edging higher after a four-day losing streak.

Investors continue to worry about the economy and the growing possibility of a government shutdown.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 26 points to 15,360 at midday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed three points to 1,700. The Nasdaq rose 11 points to 3,779.

The U.S. government will run out of funding on Monday unless Democrats and Republicans can agree to pass a temporary funding bill in the next few days.

The Dow and S&P 500 have fallen four consecutive days on concerns a government shutdown could harm the economy.

Investors did get an unexpectedly positive August durable goods report. Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose 0.1 percent last month, following an 8.1 percent decline in July.