Stocks close higher; S&P at record high

Associated Press

NEW YORK

U.S. stocks closed slightly higher Tuesday as investors continued to monitor talks between Greece and its creditors in hopes that a deal will be reached to keep the country from falling out of the eurozone.

Investments typically considered less risky, such as bonds, gold and utilities stocks, declined.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 28.23 points, or 0.2 percent, to 18,047.58. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 3.35 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,100.34, and the Nasdaq composite rose 5.43 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,899.27.

With Tuesday’s gains, the S&P 500 is at another record high. U.S. markets were closed Monday for Presidents Day.

Stock indexes had been lower most of the day but recovered their losses on reports that progress was being made between Greece and its creditors.

Greece is looking to request an extension to its loan agreement, government officials said Tuesday. It’s an effort to reach a last-minute deal with the country’s European lenders and avoid the danger of a euro exit.