Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (+0.1%) and Nasdaq Composite (+0.4%) reached new record high levels shortly after the open, while the DJIA (-0.2%) faces an early loss.

Only the energy (+0.9%), information technology (+0.5%), consumer discretionary (+0.5%), and communication services (+0.3%) sectors trade in positive territory, though the gains are wide enough to support modest advances in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

Oil stocks are pushing the energy sector to healthy early gains, tracking a $1.65 increase in crude oil prices to $66.80, a change of 2.5%.

Meanwhile, the utilities sector faces pressure as all but one of its components trade in negative territory.