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S&P 500 EKES OUT 2ND STRAIGHT RECORD HIGH CLOSE

The three major U.S. stock indexes ended higher on Wednesday, and the S&P 500 index .SPX managed a record high close for the second session in a row despite volatility during the session, with healthcare .SPXHC leading gains among S&P 500 sectors.

Investors digested minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting and also plans by President Donald Trump to impose auto tariffs "in the neighborhood of 25%." Trump also late Tuesday also said he planned similar duties on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports.

The Fed minutes showed that Trump's initial policy proposals stoked concern at the U.S. central bank about higher inflation, with firms telling the Fed they generally expected to raise prices to pass through the cost of import tariffs.

The healthcare sector rose 1.3%, while the materials sector .SPLRCM fell 1.2%.

Here is the closing market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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FOR WEDNESDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

WHY STOCKS ARE HOLDING UP DESPITE TARIFF, OTHER RISKS - CLICK HERE

THE PROBLEM WITH DEREGULATION BY JOB CUTS - CLICK HERE

BOFA CLIENTS SHUN SMALL CAPS, SNAP UP JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE - CLICK HERE

FED CAUTION LIKELY TO PUSH RATES IN MAJOR EMERGING MARKETS HIGHER, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS SAYS - CLICK HERE

HOME GAMES: HOUSING STARTS/BUILDING PERMITS, MORTGAGES- CLICK HERE

U.S. INDEXES EASE EARLY AS TRUMP PLANS MORE TARIFFS - CLICK HERE

LARGE CAPS PARTY, SMALL CAPS LEFT OUT - CLICK HERE

WHAT DOES EUROPE NEED FOR FURTHER RE-RATING? - CLICK HERE

FRENCH CORPORATE SPREADS: GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? - CLICK HERE

MARKETS TOO RELAXED ABOUT CANADIAN DOLLAR DECLINES - WESTPAC - CLICK HERE

WHO CARES ABOUT TARIFF THREATS? - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: STOCKS RALLY CALMING DOWN - CLICK HERE

MORNING BID MARKETS BECOMING NUMB TO TARIFF VOWS CLICK HERE