NEW YORK — Wall Street is holding near its record levels following mixed U.S. data that likely keeps the path clear for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in order to boost the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% early Thursday after setting an all-time high in each of the prior two days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 95 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. Treasury yields also remained relatively calm following the economic reports, which Wall Street took as cementing the case for a cut to interest rates at the Fed’s meeting next week.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

Wall Street pointed toward a third consecutive day of records before the opening bell Thursday ahead of new U.S. data releases on the labor market and inflation.

Futures

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