NEW YORK - US stocks ended higher on Wednesday as investors monitored a pivotal day for US President Donald Trump's tariff policies and the ongoing federal government shutdown, now the longest in US history.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 225.76 points, or 0.48 percent, to 47,311. The S&P 500 gained 24.74 points, or 0.37 percent, to 6,796.29. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 151.16 points, or 0.65 percent, to 23,499.8.
Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors finished higher, led by communication services and consumer discretionary, up 1.63 percent and 1.12 percent. Consumer staples and technology led the laggards, down 0.25 percent and 0.08 percent, respectively.
Investors closely watched the US Supreme Court, which heard arguments Wednesday on whether the president had the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Meanwhile, data from ADP, a US provider of human resources management software and services, showed that private-sector employment rose by 42,000 in October, beating expectations after two consecutive months of declines.
The US federal government shutdown reached its 36th day on Wednesday, marking the longest in history. The economic toll is estimated at about 15 billion dollars per week, with administration officials warning of potential "mass chaos" for air travelers if the impasse continues.
In corporate news, AMD shares rose 2.51 percent after the chipmaker reported quarterly results that topped Wall Street estimates, reversing early losses tied to margin concerns. Broadcom and Micron Technology advanced 2 percent and nearly 9 percent, respectively. Leading AI player Oracle rose 0.86 percent, recovering from Tuesday's plunge.
