U.S. stock indexes are drifting Thursday following some potentially discouraging data on the economy. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, potentially on track for its third loss in the last four days. That would count as a stumble amid a big rally that’s carried the index toward the close of one of its best years of the millennium.

The S&P 500 went up 14.77 points or 0.2% to close at 6047.15, a record closing high. It is the index's 54th record close of 2024. The Nasdaq Composite gained 185.78 points or 1% to finish at 19403.95, a record close. It is the index's 33rd record close of 2024.