S&P 500 shakes off a bumpy start, pushes to another record

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks shook off a slow start on Wall Street and pushed gradually higher in the afternoon, leaving the S&P 500 at another record high. The benchmark index rose 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended up 0.8%. The modest market moves followed mixed data on the economy, including a report that showed consumer confidence unexpectedly dropped this month, contrary to economists’ forecast for a strengthening. Another report said sales of new homes accelerated faster than