S&P 500 Index opens modestly higher, closes in on all-time highs

• Wall Street's main indexes continue to edge higher.
• Energy stocks underperform amid falling crude oil prices.

Major equity indexes opened in the positive territory for the sixth straight day on Wednesday as risk flows remain in control of financial markets in the absence of high-tier data releases. Reflecting the upbeat market mood, the CBOE Volatility Index is down 2% on the day.

As of writing, the S&P 500, which set an all-time high of 4,545 on September 2, was up 0.15% on the day at 4,525. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was rising 0.1% at 35,487 and the Nasdaq Composite was gaining 0.08% at 15,142.

Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, the Energy Index is down nearly 1% pressured by the 2% decline witnessed in US crude oil prices. On the other hand, the Healthcare Index is rising 0.9% as the biggest gainer after the opening bell. 

S&P 500 chart (daily)