Dow, S&P post third-straight gain to close out losing August on high note

U.S. stocks ended the day mostly higher during the final trading session of August, which saw volatile action driven by trade and global growth concerns. Equities traded higher in the morning after Chinese officials offered more hopeful rhetoric on the trade front, but pared those gains in the afternoon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 29 points, or 0.1% to about 26,392, while the S&P 500 added roughly 1 point to close at 2,926. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 11 points, or 0.1% to 7,963. For the month, the Dow lost about 1.7%, the S&P 500 shed 1.8% and the Nasdaq fell by 2.7%. In company news, Dell Technologies Inc. rallied more than 10% on better-than expected earnings. Ulta Beauty Inc. fell nearly 30% after the cosmetics retailer lowered guidance for the year.

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.