Stocks rise on Wall Street

U.S. stock indexes closed mostly higher Monday, nudging the S&P 500 within striking distance of its all-time high set in February.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% after wavering between small gains and losses in the early going. The benchmark index is now within 1% of its last record high.

The gains came on the first trading day since President Donald Trump announced several stopgap moves to aid the economy in response to the collapse of talks on Capitol Hill for a bigger rescue package.

Trump signed executive orders over the weekend to extend an expired benefit for unemployed workers, among other things. The orders were more limited than what investors hoped to see from a full rescue bill for the economy, but hopes remain that the White House and Congress can return to talks and find a compromise.

The S&P 500 gained 9.19 points (0.3%) to 3,360.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 357.96 (1.3%) to 27,791.44. The Nasdaq composite lost 42.63 (0.4%) to 10,968.36. The Russell 2000 index of small-company stocks added 15.49 (1%) to 1,584.67.

Most stocks across Wall Street rose, with hotels, cruise operators and airlines — among the hardesthit companies due to the pandemic — seeing the biggest gains.