Shares of industrial and transportation companies were higher amid economic optimism.
U.S. factory orders rose a modest 0.3% in April after a much larger gain in the prior month, perhaps a sign of some slight softening in the manufacturing sector.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a 0.6% gain.
Boeing shares were up more than 7% after comments from Delta CEO Edward Bastian at a Bernstein investor conference Wednesday.
Mr. Bastian was asked if there was a place for the MAX in Delta's fleet. "I think there is, I think there is," responded Bastian.
"We've been trying to get a deal done with Boeing on that. We're keeping our eye on that, and hopefully, we'll be able to figure that out."
Boeing didn't respond to a request for comment about Delta negotiations.
Meanwhile, NASA chose Axiom Space Inc. and Collins Aerospace to provide it with new astronaut suits, as the agency pushes to replace decades-old hardware and spur more commercial activity in space.
Global buyout giant EQT AB is nearing a deal to acquire Envirotainer from rival Cinven in a deal that values the medical-freight provider at about $3 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter, the latest bet on the growing demand for logistics services.
President Biden plans to deliver an address on gun laws from the White House on Thursday evening, his most high-profile effort to date to push for new legislation following a series of deadly mass shootings.
Write to Amy Pessetto at amy.pessetto@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-02-22 1707ET
