*Caterpillar lifts Dow; German data points to growth. "People are concerned they're missing the boat if they're not fully invested in the stock market right now," said Eric Kuby, chief investment officer of North Star Investment Management Corp., in Chicago. Caterpillar rose 2.5 percent to $89.79 and ranked as the Dow's top percentage gainer.
*Caterpillar lifts Dow; German data points to growth. Shares of JPMorgan Chase, up 2 percent at $49.14, led the S&P 500' s climb. Caterpillar rose 2.5 percent to $89.79 and ranked as the Dow's top percentage gainer.
NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stocks advanced on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 extending its three-day rally to yet another intraday high, led by gains in the materials and energy sectors. Caterpillar Inc, the world's largest construction and mining equipment maker, was the Dow's biggest percentage gainer with its stock up 2.1 percent at $89.39.
*S&P 500 coming off three days of gains, record close. NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stocks were little changed on Tuesday following yet another record close on the S&P 500 as investors booked profits from a recent rally in the technology sector. First Solar and Netflix shares were also down, weighing on the tech-heavy index.
*S&P 500 coming off three days of gains, record close. *Investors looking for catalysts after rally. NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stocks edged higher on Tuesday as the positive tone in markets continued but investors found little reason to push shares decisively higher after the S&P 500 hit another record close.
*S&P 500 coming off three days of gains, record close. *Investors looking for catalysts after rally. NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stock index futures pointed to slight gains at the open on Tuesday after the S&P 500 hit another record high, but investors found little reason to push shares higher.
*S&P 500 coming off three days of gains, record close. NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Tuesday after the S&P 500 extended its string of record closes in the previous session and has in five months matched all of 2012' s gains.
*Investors looking for catalysts after rally. NEW YORK, May 7- U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 extending its three-day rally to an intraday high, although profit-taking in technology shares capped gains. Shares of First Solar and video subscription company Netflix were also down, pressuring the index.
The past five years haven't been the brightest for the economy or consumers, but that hasn't held back retail stocks. It's been the consumer that has led the way for the Dow Jones Industrial Average since the Oct. 9, 2007, closing peak for the blue chip index, with two retailers landing among the top five performers since that time.
U.S. stock index futures were narrowly mixed Tuesday ahead of President Obama's State of the Union address this evening.
*Goodyear profit tops estimates, but tire company cuts outlook. "Things are really quiet, waiting to see what the marching orders are for the next four years," said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. Equities were mostly flat on Monday but the trend for the S&P 500, after six straight weeks of gains, has been upward.
The Fast Money traders share their final trades of the day.
Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 5:50 PM ETScott London spoke to CNBC's Jane Wells about the KPMG insider trading scheme and how much he made in kickbacks. London says "nothing like this has ever happened before."
Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 1:31 PM ET7-Eleven franchisees are charged with identity theft and money laundering, reports CNBC's Andrea Day. The 7-Eleven owners created a "modern-day plantation system" according to the U.S. Attorney.