Wall Street Up Despite Boeing, Caterpillar Woes

Analysts said expectations for an interest rate cut next week more than offset headwinds that included a regulatory crackdown on technology giants and congressional testimony from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on election interference by Russia.

The S&P 500 rose 0.5 per cent to close at 3,020, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 0.9 per cent to end at 8,321.50.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, shed 0.3 per cent to 27,270.

The records came after the Justice Department announced it would begin an antitrust review of major online platforms to determine if they have "stifled" innovation or reduced competition.

The move means more scrutiny for tech giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google-parent Alphabet.

However, none of the companies fell significantly and Facebook finished with a gain of 1.1 per cent despite also being hit with a US$5 billion fine over privacy violations in a wide-ranging settlement that revamps oversight at the social network. (AFP)