Market Recap: Stocks Up on Econ News, Precious Metals Down

Markets were up today:

▲ Dow: +0.03 percent

▲ Nasdaq: +0.13 percent

▲ S&P: +0.08 percent

Precious metals:

▼ Gold: up -0.65 percent to $1,654.91 an ounce

▼ Silver: up -0.60 percent to settle at $30.62

Commodities:

▼ Oil: -1.15 percent

Markets were up because:

Slightly better economic growth and stronger housing sales nudged the stock market higher Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average managed a four-point gain.

The U.S. economy expanded at a 1.7 percent annual rate from April through June thanks to rising consumer spending and exports. That's an improvement from the initial estimate of 1.5 percent, but not enough to put a dent in the unemployment rate.

The National Association of Realtors said its index of sales for previously owned homes increased 2.4 percent in July, reaching its highest level since April 2010, the last month buyers could qualify for a federal tax credit.

The Dow added 4.49 points to close at 13,107.48.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 1.19 points to 1,410.49, while the Nasdaq composite index gained 4.05 points to 3,081.19.

Crude oil lost 84 cents to finish at $95.49. Hurricane Isaac made landfall Tuesday night, but its heavy winds and rain aren't expected to cause extensive damage to oil production and refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Markets have slipped into a late-summer lull. Indexes have barely budged amid some of thinnest trading days this year. After three days of minuscule moves, the S&P 500 index is down less than one point for the week.

Just over 10 billion shares have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange over the past four sessions, the slowest stretch since the last four days of 2011. One measure of stock-market volatility, the Vix, recently sank to a five-year low.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.