U.S. Stocks Lower as Dow Hits Record Close

Stocks ended mostly lower as oil prices surged and Treasury yields jumped prior to the Federal Reserve meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a 15th record finish, while financial firms pulling down major U.S. stock indexes.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2 percent at 19,796.43, the S&P 500 slipped 0.11 percent at 2,256.96 while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.59 percent at 5,412.54. The blue-chip index climbed for the sixth straight session to reach another record high, as advances in Exxon Mobil and Johnson & Johnson helped counterbalance the lows in American Express and Goldman Sachs Group. The S&P 500's financial sector finished lower in four sessions since Nov. 8. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index edged down 0.7 percent.

Energy shares rallied alongside oil prices following an announcement from a group of oil producers who agreed to reduce their output with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The S&P 500's energy sector gained 0.7 percent. Exxon Mobil was up 2.2 percent to $90.98. FMC Technologies climbed two percent to 36.08 while Helmerich & Payne added 1.7 percent to 83.18.

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