NEW YORK, Dec 18 — Wall Street’s major indexes inched higher yesterday, extending their record-setting rally, as strong housing and manufacturing data bolstered investors’ confidence in the US economy.

The benchmark S&P 500 hit a record high for a fourth straight session, building on its 27 per cent gain this year, which has been driven by progress toward a US-China trade agreement, a dovish Federal Reserve and upbeat economic indicators.

US housing starts increased more than expected in November, and building permits rose that month to the highest level since May 2007. Data from the Federal Reserve also showed manufacturing output picked up more than expected in November, as the end of a strike at General Motors Co boosted automobile production.

“Most of the data is showing that the global economy is stabilising and the US economy is on a solid footing,” said Keith Lerner, chief market strategist at Truist/SunTrust Advisory Services in Atlanta. “The market has been repricing the odds of a recession risk lower.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 31.27 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 28,267.16, the S&P 500 gained 1.07 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 3,192.52 and the Nasdaq Composite added 9.13 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8,823.36.

The S&P 500 financial index, which tends to be economically sensitive, rose 0.5 per cent to a record high on the upbeat data. Among the S&P 500’s major sectors, financials added the most gains to the benchmark index.

Shares of Home Depot Inc rose 1.0 per cent on the housing data and were among the biggest boosts to the Dow. Shares of rival Lowe’s Cos Inc dipped 0.6 per cent, however, after having risen earlier in the session.

Netflix Inc shares rose 3.7 per cent, among the biggest percentage gains on the S&P 500, after the streaming service provider said late Monday that its overseas growth, particularly its Asia-Pacific business, was accelerating.

Apple Inc shares touched a record high and ended with marginal gains, up 0.2 per cent.

After the bell, FedEx Corp shares fell about 6 per cent after the package-delivery company reported quarterly results.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.59-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.27-to-1 ratio favoured advancers.

The S&P 500 posted 47 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 173 new highs and 54 new lows.

Volume on US exchanges was 7.28 billion shares, compared to the 6.89 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. — Reuters