In U.S. stocks, the S&P 500.........>

US STOCKS CLOSE: In U.S. stocks, the S&P 500 closed up 0.08% at 2,446.30, after

trading in a 2,428.20 to 2,449.19 range. The S&P 500 has struggled recently to

decisively vault its 55-day moving average, around 2,449.

- The August 21 low of 2,417.35 was the lowest since July 11, when the index

bottomed at 2,412.79.

- At Tuesday's close, the S&P 500 was up 9.3% year-to date and down 1.8% from

the life-time intraday high of 2,490.87, seen August 8.

- Market players were also homing in on the Russell 2000 index, which often

leads larger stock swings.

- The index, closing up 0.11% at 1,383.68 posted a low of 1,349.35 August 18,

which was the lowest level since April 17, when the Russell 2000 bottomed at

1,345.363.

- Both Monday and Tuesday, the Russell 2000 has closed above its 200-day moving

average, currently around 1,381, which suggests scope for additional gains.