Shares of industrial and transportation companies rose amid optimism about the outlook for economic growth and interest rates.

"It's an election year: there's a lot of stimulus put into the system," said Eric Marshall, president of Dallas mutual-fund firm Hodges Capital. "A lot of infrastructure spending -- things put in place in the later part of 22, are just now starting to flow into capital projects in the economy."

Boeing shares fell and are now down by more than one quarter for the year to date, as Southwest Airlines said confusion caused by manufacturing delays had caused the airline's financial projections.

3M Chief Executive Mike Roman will hand off his role to defense contractor L3 Harris Technologies Chief Executive Bill Brown, moving to a role as executive chairman as the manufacturing conglomerate wrestles with litigation over "forever chemicals."

Blade Air Mobility's shares fell after the provider of helicopter transportation forecast sales short of Wall Street targets.

Tesla and Ford Motor were among several automakers to receive poor grades in a study that reviewed driver-assistance systems, finding little evidence the technology provides safety benefits to motorists.


Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-12-24 1700ET