Energy was the biggest laggard, as crude oil prices closed lower, backtracking after an early rally. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index rose 0.85 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,181.74. Benchmark crude fell 25 cents, or 0.6 percent, to close at $42.77 a barrel in New York. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.7 percent, while the South Korean Kospi climbed 0.6 percent. An early rally in United States crude oil prices evaporated.

Source: New York Times August 09, 2016 14:08 UTC