Investors remained in a record-setting mood Tuesday, edging the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index to their latest all-time highs.
Pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies led the broad pickup in stocks, extending gains for the S&P 500 and Dow. The Nasdaq notched its first gain this week.
The rally builds on a market rebound in recent weeks powered by strong corporate earnings.
The major stock indexes opened flat on Monday, but quickly began to rise.
All told, the S&P 500 index added 10.48 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,051.80. Its previous closing high was set Monday.
The Dow rose 40.07 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,687.82. That's just 0.2 percent higher than its most recent record close last Thursday.
The Nasdaq composite gained 31.44 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,702.44.