Despite Fed, a late push sends U.S. stocks higher

8/20/2014

NEW YORK — A late round of buying is leaving stock indexes mostly higher.

Bond prices fell, sending yields higher, on word that Federal Reserve policymakers were leaning toward raising interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 59 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 16,979 today.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose four points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,986. The Nasdaq was flat at 4,526.

The S&P 500 is just one point below its record high close from July 24.

J.M. Smucker fell 1 percent after the food company cut its full-year sales outlook.

Bond prices fell after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its latest policy meeting which revealed that many policymakers were pushing to raise interest rates.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.43 percent.