Buyers reward solid earnings

Smaller stocks, tech lead way as Russell, Nasdaq, S&P all rise

Stocks steadily gained ground Wednesday and closed broadly higher on Wall Street as investors rewarded solid earnings results from several large companies.

The S&P 500 got off to a weak start but gained steam and closed at a record high. Smaller stocks far outpaced larger ones and gave the Russell 2000 the biggest gain among major indexes. The Nasdaq gained ground all day and also closed at a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell.

Technology stocks were the brightest spot in the market. A solid earnings report from Texas Instruments pushed the chipmaker’s stock higher and made the sector the biggest gainer.

Industrial stocks moved higher after UPS beat Wall Street’s financial forecasts. The solid results from the delivery service counteracted steep drops from Boeing and Caterpillar, which both reported weak results.

Anthem sank 4.5 percent after the insurer reported higher costs. Unitedhealth Group lost 1.5 percent. The health care sector fell broadly.

The Russell 2000, which focuses on smaller stocks, outshone every other index. It rose 25.46 points, or 1.6 percent, to 1,580.42.

The S&P 500 index rose 14.09 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,019.56, putting it on track for a weekly gain. Boeing and Caterpillar weighed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It fell 79.22 points, or 0.3 percent, to 27,269.97. The Nasdaq rose 70.10 points, or 0.8 percent, to 8,321.50.

Corporate results have been mixed this week, though investors are jumping on some of the best performers during this latest round. This is a heavy week for financial results, with nearly 150 major companies reporting results through Friday.

Investors have been treading cautiously as the trade war between the U.S. and China looms over corporate earnings. The uncertainty could continue to sap confidence, said Scott Wren, senior global equity strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

“Companies across the world are holding back on capital expenditures as uncertainty reigns supreme,” he wrote in a note to investors.

Looking ahead, the market will remain focused on central banks, particularly the Federal Reserve, as they take measures to support economic growth. Investors expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week.