Dow Closes Higher, Ends 7-day Losing Streak

Dow industrials posted modest gains Wednesday, putting an end to the longest stretch of declines in nearly a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 41.23 points, 0.2%, higher at 18,355.00, snapping a 7-day losing streak. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Groups, Inc. led the gains on the blue-chip index. The benchmark S&P 500 also closed higher, propelled by a jump in oil prices above $41 a barrel. The S&P 500 index advanced 6.76 points, or 0.3% to 2,163.79, with energy shares leading the gains. Meanwhile the Nasdaq Composite Index ended the session up 22 points, or 0.4%, at 5,159.74.