U.S. stocks rise for fourth straight day; Dow industrials gain nearly 50 points

U.S. stocks' winning streak extends to day four.
NEW YORK (MarketWatch)

U.S. stocks on Wednesday ended modestly higher, extending the market's winning streak into a fourth consecutive session. Financial and health-care stocks paced the gains, which moderated after the Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book offered a mixed view of the economy. "We're in a market-based meltup. We're up double-digits for the year, and a lot of people missed that," prompting still-nervous investors to step into equities, said Doug Roberts, chief investment strategist for Channel Capital Research.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU 9,547, +49.50, +0.52%) added 49.88 points, or 0.5%, to 9,547.22. The S&P 500 (SPX 1,033, +7.98, +0.78%) advanced 7.98 points, or 0.8%, to 1,033.37. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP 2,060, +22.62, +1.11%) added 22.62 points, or 1.1%, to end at 2,060.39