Stocks finished modestly higher Thursday, with the S&P 500 logging its first record close since May 7 as investors shrugged off another round of hotter-than-expected inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around 20 points, or 0.5%, to finish near 34,466, according to preliminary figures. The S&P 500 gained around 20 points, or 0.5%, to close around 4,239, taking out its previous record finish at 4,232.60. The Nasdaq Composite advanced nearly 109 points, or 0.8%, to around 14,020.
