In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could remain out of a recession that many investors had earlier worried was inevitable.

U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year.

Wall Street opened December with a mixed performance, highlighted by record-breaking highs and sector-driven fluctuations. The S&P 500 edged up 0.2 percent by midday, building on its best month of the year.

U.S. stocks are drifting around their records on Tuesday ahead of the week’s first big update on how well the job market is doing. The S&P 500 was virtually flat in early trading, a day after rising tech stocks helped it set an all-time high for the 54th time this year.

U.S. stocks are kicking off December by drifting around their record heights. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in early Monday trading after closing its best month of the year at