The S&P 500 was headed for its 42 record close of the year on Thursday, pushed higher by a surge in stocks of companies that make materials used to support manufacturing. The S&P 500 was up 19 points, or 0.3%, near 5,741, at last check.

U.S. stock indexes are drifting around their records as hopes hold that the economy can pull off the feat of getting painfully high inflation under control without a recession

U.S. stock indexes are drifting around their records Friday as hopes hold that the economy can pull off the rare feat of getting painfully high inflation under control without a recession. The S&P 500 was 0.