NEW YORK, Sept 30 — The Dow and S&P 500 finished higher yesterday, but the tech-rich Nasdaq fell for the sixth straight day following a choppy session for US stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 47.24 points (0.30 per cent) at 16,049.13.

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 2.32 (0.12 per cent) to 1,884.09, but the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 26.65 (0.59 per cent) to 4,517.32.

US stocks had their strongest gains of the day after the Conference Board reported that the US consumer confidence index rose to 103.0, besting expectations for a sharp drop.

But trade was volatile thereafter, leaving the Nasdaq lower amid lingering anxiety over global growth and US monetary policy. — AFP