S&P 500 at new record after solid US data

The S&P 500 Tuesday notched a record close for the second straight session as US stocks rallied following some solid economic data. At the closing bell, the broad-based S&P 500 gained 11.43 points (0.60 percent) at 1,911.96. On Friday the index closed above 1,900 for the first time; markets were closed Monday for a holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 80.13 (0.42 percent) to 16,676.40, while the strongest move came from the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index, which jumped 51.26 (1.22 percent) to 4,237.07. Fresh US economic data showed a rise in consumer confidence for May, a surprising increase in durable goods orders for April and an increase in home prices for March on the widely watched S&P/Case-Shiller index. Wells Fargo Advisors called the economic data "encouraging," according to a market note. Mace Blicksilver, director of Marblehead Asset Management, said the rally in technology stocks was a sign of improving