Tech Falls, But Dow Up 68

Stocks closed with modest gains today as the tech and financial sectors, drivers of the recent rally, lost some steam, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nonetheless, the Dow was boosted by a 7.7% rise by Caterpillar, which reported a smaller-than-expected profit decline and raised its full-year earnings forecast. Apple and Yahoo both fell about 1% on pessimism on their quarterly earnings, which are due after today’s close. The Dow closed up 68 points at 8,916. The Nasdaq rose 7 points to close at 1,916, and the S&P 500 gained 3 points, closing at 955. (More Dow Jones stories.)