A previously unloved corner of the U.S. stock market has quietly emerged as one of the top performers of the S&P 500, reshaping Wall Street over the past few months. Surging over 23% year to date, the S&P 500’s utilities sector has been the second-best performer among the large-cap benchmark index’s 11 sectors so far in 2024.

AI investing has been all the rage this year, but as macro uncertainty picks up, so have recommendations to buy defensive stocks.

Wall Street inched higher before the bell Thursday as markets try to extend this week's gains in hopes of clawing back more of last week's losses. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each rose just less than 0.

U.S. stocks are gaining ground on Wall Street Thursday following a couple reports on the economy that came in close to expectations.