Dow Jones Industrial Average retakes 34,000 for first time since May

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surmounted the 34,000 level on Tuesday for the first time since early May as U.S. stocks swung higher in midday trade. The blue-chip gauge was up 260 points, or 0.8%, to 34,174, on track to close above the key level for the first time since May 4, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The S&P 500 was up 16 points, or 0.3%, to 4,313, its highest level in more than three months. As of noon in New York, the Nasdaq Composite was the only one of the three main benchmarks still trading in the red. The tech-heavy gauge was down 12 points, or 0.1%, at 13,115. The Dow was outperforming on Tuesday thanks in part to strong earnings from Walmart Inc. which was up 5.7% in recent trade.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.