US stocks edge higher on good news about the economy; Energy sector leads as oil price gains

December 3, 2014 at 9:21PM

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are edging higher in midday trading following some good news on the U.S. economy.

Oil and gas companies climbed the most as the price of crude oil edged up Wednesday. Major U.S. indexes are holding near record levels.

Payroll processer ADP said U.S. businesses hired at a solid clip last month, and a trade group said the service sector got more busy in November.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose two points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,069 as of 11:45 a.m.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose two points to 17,882. The Nasdaq composite rose nine points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,765.

Crude oil rose 42 cents to $67.32 a barrel.

Bond prices were flat. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held at 2.29 percent.

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