S&P 500 index climbs after Yellen remarks boost bank stocks

The benchmark S&P 500 index rose and was near its record high on Thursday as bank stocks got a boost on bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve was on track to raise interest rates in December following comments by Chair Janet Yellen. The Nasdaq was set for another day of gains, boosted by Microsoft and Apple . The Dow, which snapped a seven-day rally on Wednesday, was little changed.