U.S. stocks rose Thursday, putting the three major indexes near record highs, as investors considered economic data and remarks from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen. In testimony to a U.S. congressional committee, Yellen said an interest-rate increase could be "appropriate relatively soon," adding there are dangers to waiting too long to tighten monetary policy. Most market participants expect the central bank to raise interest rates next month. In U.S. economic news, jobless claims fell to a 43-year low last week, housing starts jumped more than 25 percent in October, while consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in October, in line with expectations and increasing chances the Fed would lift rates in December. The U.S. dollar traded higher versus a basket of currencies. On Wednesday, the dollar index hit its highest level in more than a decade. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $45.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold for December delivery rose 70 cents to $1,224.60 an ounce. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 35.68, or 0.2 percent, to 18,903.82. Sixteen of the index's 30 components rose, led by Home Depot, whose shares jumped 2.9 percent. Other notable gainers included Microsoft, Nike, and Goldman Sachs, whose shares each advanced between 1.6 and 1.9 percent. Decliners were led by Cisco, whose shares plunged 4.8 percent, and Wal-Mart, which lost 3.1 percent after posting disappointing quarterly revenue. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 10.18, or 0.5 percent, to 2,187.12. Financials rose 1.25 percent, leading seven sectors higher, while consumer staples led four declining sectors. Shares of BestBuy jumped nearly 15 percent after the electronics retailer posted quarterly results that beat expectations. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 39.39, or 0.7 percent, to 5,333.97, despite Apple shares falling slightly.
