U.S. stocks recover from a late stumble; S&P 500 index edges further into record territory

2/28/2014

NEW YORK — Stocks are ending mostly higher after the market had a brief stumble in the afternoon.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged further into record territory, but weakness in technology stocks held back the Nasdaq composite.

The S&P 500 rose five points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,859 today.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 49 points, or 0.3 percent, at 16,321. The Dow had been up as much as 126 points earlier in the day.

The Nasdaq composite ended down 10 points, or 0.3 percent, at 4,308.

The S&P 500 index rose 5 percent in February, recovering the ground it lost in January. It’s up 0.6 percent for the year.

Monster Beverage jumped 4 percent after reporting higher sales of energy drinks.