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Markets Right Now: US stocks close slightly higher

NEW YORK (AP) - The latest on developments in global financial markets (all times local):

4:00 p.m.

Stocks are ending slightly higher on Wall Street, led by gains in health care companies.

The gains the market made on Tuesday, while meager, were enough to break a two-day losing streak.

Merck rose 1 percent, the second-biggest gain in the Dow Jones industrial average. General Electric rose 0.8 percent.

Water park operator SeaWorld Entertainment slumped almost 5 percent after saying it would suspend its dividend payments.

The Dow rose 9 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,129.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained less than 1 point to 2,139. The Nasdaq composite climbed 6 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,241.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.69 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are moving higher on Wall Street, led by gains in health care and industrial companies.

Merck rose 1.7 percent in midday trading Tuesday, the biggest gain in the Dow Jones industrial average. General Electric rose 1 percent.

Royal Caribbean gained 4 percent after raising its quarterly dividend.

The Dow rose 51 points, or 0.3 percent, to 18,170.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 4 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,143. The Nasdaq composite climbed 10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,244.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.67 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening modestly higher on Wall Street, led by gains in banks and industrial companies.

General Electric rose 1 percent shortly after the opening bell Tuesday, one of the biggest gains in the Dow Jones industrial average.

Pier 1 Imports jumped 4 percent after Alden Global Capital disclosed a 9.5 percent stake in the company.

Troubled theme park operator SeaWorld slumped 6 percent after saying it will stop paying dividends.

The Dow rose 70 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,192.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 7 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,146. The Nasdaq composite climbed 18 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,254.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.69 percent.

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