Nasdaq sets second straight record

Utilities, real estate, and other big-dividend-paying companies led U.S. stocks mostly higher Wednesday, pushing the Nasdaq composite to a record for the second day in a row.

The gains by big-dividend-paying stocks came as bond yields fell, making those traditional safe-haven companies more attractive to investors seeking income. Banks and other financial stocks were the market's biggest laggards.

While investors have been focused in recent weeks on companies reporting their quarterly results, they are also trying to size up whether the Trump administration will deliver on expectations of business-friendly policies that helped fuel the market rally last fall.

"You're beginning to see investors hedging some of their concerns, whether it's an escalation in the debate between the White House and the judges on the [travel] ban, or concerns over the direction of the elections coming up in the Eurozone," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial. "The question really is whether or not those concerns intensify."

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.59 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,294.67. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 35.95 points, or 0.2 percent, to 20,054.34. The Nasdaq added 8.24 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,682.45. The index also closed at a record high on Tuesday and last Friday. The Russell 2000 index of small-company stocks fell 2.32 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,358.74.

The stock indexes headed lower as trading opened Wednesday and investors weighed the latest company earnings. The market recovered some of its losses by midmorning after crude oil prices turned higher following an early slide.

Benchmark U.S. crude rose 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, to close at $52.34 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, climbed 7 cents, or 0.1 percent, to close at $55.12 a barrel in London.

Investors bid up shares in companies that posted better-than-expected quarterly results and outlooks.

Strong fiscal third-quarter earnings propelled Microchip Technology 6 percent higher, making it the biggest gainer in the S&P 500. The stock climbed $4.18 to $73.80.

Myriad Genetics jumped 7.3 percent after the diagnostic test maker said sales of hereditary cancer tests have resumed rising, driving revenue to the highest level in three years. The stock gained $1.12 to $16.52.

In other energy futures trading, wholesale gasoline rose 7 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $1.55 a gallon, while heating oil added 1 cent to $1.64 a gallon. Natural gas futures were little changed at $3.13 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Among metals, the price of gold added $3.40 to $1,239.50 an ounce. Silver fell 5 cents to $17.71 an ounce. Copper rose 3 cents to $2.67 a pound.

The dollar fell to 112.05 yen from 112.19 yen on Tuesday. The euro weakened to $1.0687 from $1.0696.