Stocks edge up in another day of choppy trading

$PHOTOCREDIT_ON$Associated Press$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$

NEW YORK — Stocks are closing higher for the second day in a row, led by gains in General Electric Co. and other industrial companies.

GE rose the most of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average, 2.6 percent. Cummins Inc., an engine maker, topped the S&P 500 with a 6 percent gain.

The Dow rose 45 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 11,106.

The S&P 500 rose 11, or 0.9 percent, to 1,173 Tuesday. The Nasdaq gained 37, or 1.5 percent, to 2,532.

The market has closed higher only three times in September. It was the first back-to-back gain since the last week of August.

Nearly four stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was below average at 4.1 billion.