US markets hold near records as fresh data keeps Fed on track to cut rates

Wall Street is holding near its record levels following mixed US data that likely keeps the path clear for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in order to boost the economy.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS & REUTERS

The S&P 500 rose 0.3 per cent early Thursday after setting an all-time high in each of the prior two days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 95 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4 per cent. Treasury yields also remained relatively calm following the economic reports, which Wall Street took as cementing the case for a cut to interest rates at the Fed's meeting next week.