Slight Gains in US Stocks Lift Dow, S&P, Nasdaq to New Highs<br />Trading was subdued overall as investors looked ahead to Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve was expected to deliver an update on the central bank’s view of the economy<br />and the timing of its plans to raise interest rates and shrink its bond holdings.<br />Such a move would allow the Fed to effectively raise interest rates without touching its key short-term<br />rate, known as the federal funds rate, said Phil Blancato, CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management.<br />Health care stocks lagged the most, pulling down insurers, hospital operators<br />and other companies as a Republican effort to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law appeared to gain momentum.<br />Speculation that the Fed will announce plans to unwind its bond portfolio helped lift shares in banks and other financial companies.<br />Wall Street capped a day of mostly listless trading Tuesday with a slight gain, good<br />enough to lift the major U. S. stock indexes to another set of all-time highs.<br />"That does have an impact on the bond market, and you see the bond market going slightly higher here over the last two days."
