US stocks rose modestly as technology shares regained some footing and new signs emerged that the economic pace may be easing enough to avert an inflationary spurt.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 35.63 to 7,305.29. The blue chip barometer had gained as much as 82 points earlier in the session, moving within 32 points of a new high, but pulled back as investors secured some gains before today's key report on last month's payroll and wage levels.
Advancing issues out numbered decliners by a 3 to 2 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,507 up, 986 down and 857 unchanged.
NYSE volume total led 452.62 million shares as of 4p.m., versus 466.71 million in the previous session.
The Standard and Poor's 500 stock list rose 3.32 to 843.43, and the NYSE composite index rose 1.46 to 441.64. The Nasdaq composite index rose 10.39 to 1,390.06.
