Health stocks slip after bill fails

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks were divided Tuesday as health insurers declined after the failure of the latest Republican health-care bill, while a big jump in subscribers for Netflix sent technology and consumer-focused companies higher.

Stocks spent most of the day lower after the health-care push stalled, and several financial firms, including Goldman Sachs, reported underwhelming second-quarter results. Energy and industrial companies also slipped.

While stocks flirted with larger losses and most of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange fell, the gains for tech and consumer stocks were enough to send the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite to new highs.

The S&P 500 rose 1.47 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,460.61, just above the record it set Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 54.99 points, or 0.3 percent, to 21,574.73. The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. was responsible for almost all of that loss. The Nasdaq composite climbed 29.87 points, or 0.5 percent, to 6,344.31 as such tech companies as Facebook and Alphabet, the parent of Google, rose. After a plunge in June, the Nasdaq has surged over the last two weeks.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks sank 3.99 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,427.61. That index closed at an all-time high Monday.

Several major banks reported strong second-quarter results, but that wasn't enough to get investors excited. Bank of America Corp. and Goldman Sachs both said their trading businesses struggled, as the market has been calm for months.

Goldman lost $5.95, or 2.6 percent, to $223.31, and Comerica Inc. fell $1.47, or 2 percent, to $73.05. Bank of America declined 12 cents to $23.90.

Netflix jumped after the company said it added 5.2 million subscribers over the last three months, and that for the first time, it has more subscribers outside the U.S. than in it. The second quarter is usually a slow period for Netflix, so investors were pleased to see the big gain. Netflix gained $21.90, or 13.5 percent, to $183.60. Among other consumer companies, Amazon added $14.34, or 1.4 percent, to $1,024.38.

Facebook gained $3.13, or 2 percent, to $162.86 and Alphabet picked up $10.99, or 1.1 percent, to $986.85.

Health insurers declined. Aetna Inc. fell $1.69, or 1.1 percent, to $153.31, and Anthem retreated $2.64, or 1.4 percent, to $189.45. UnitedHealthcare, the largest company in the industry, inched higher after it reported strong second-quarter results and raised its annual outlook. It gained 59 cents to $186.85.

The dollar slipped again. It has steadily lost ground for most of this year, and the ICE US dollar index is now at its lowest level since August. The dollar slid to 111.98 yen from 112.66 yen. The euro rose to $1.1563 from $1.1480. The euro hasn't been this strong compared to the dollar since early 2015.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slid to 2.26 percent from 2.31 percent. That also hurt bank stocks.

Benchmark U.S. crude added 38 cents to $46.40 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 42 cents to $48.84 a barrel in London.

Wholesale gasoline rose 2 cents to $1.58 a gallon. Heating oil added 1 cent to $1.51 a gallon. Natural gas added 7 cents to $3.09 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold gained $8.20 to $1,241.90 an ounce. Silver rose 17 cents, or 1 percent, to $16.27 an ounce. Copper added 1 cent to $2.73 a pound.