US stocks close at fresh record high

US stocks rose at the end of Tuesday’s trading, notching a fresh record close as investors monitored developments in the Middle East, while pressure in the technology sector capped Wall Street’s gains.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.45%, or 228 points, to 51,307 points, marking a fresh record close.

The broader S&P 500 advanced 0.13%, or 9 points, to 7,609 points, closing above the 7,600-point level for the first time ever.

The Nasdaq Composite was flat at 27,093 points, held back by Alphabet, which fell 3.86% to $361.85, and Microsoft, which dropped 4.17% to $441.31.

Additionally, STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.66% to 625 points.

FTSE 100 climbed 0.33% to 10,373 points, Germany’s DAX added 0.48% to 25,124 points, and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.77% to 8,209 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.30% to 66,734 points, while the broader TOPIX declined 0.40% to 3,924 points.

In oil markets, Brent crude futures for August delivery rose 1%, or $1.02, to $96 per barrel.

US Nymex crude futures for July delivery increased 1.74%, or $1.60, to $93.76 per barrel.

As for gold, August gold futures rose 0.30%, or $13.60, to $4,519.90 per ounce.

Wall Street was supported by President Donald Trump’s confirmation that negotiations with Iran were continuing, and by Iranian media reports that Tehran is considering a proposal to end the war with Washington, despite communications between the two sides being cut off for several days.