U.S. stocks drift higher in quiet trading following a rally late last week; Hasbro rises

2/10/2014

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are ending slightly higher as the market settles down after a two-day surge late last week.

Hasbro rose almost 5 percent after the toy maker raised its dividend.

Investors were looking ahead to the first public comments from Janet Yellen since she became the head of the Federal Reserve. Ms. Yellen will testify before Congress Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Dow Jones industrial was lower for most of the day today but turned slightly higher in late trading. The Dow closed up seven points, or 0.1 percent, at 15,801.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose two points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,799. The Nasdaq composite rose 22 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,148.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell. Trading volume was slightly lower than usual.