The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4:00 p.m.

Banks led stocks slightly higher on Wall Street as lawmakers moved to undo stricter regulations placed on banks following the 2008 financial crisis.

The Nasdaq closed at another record high Thursday.

Utilities and consumer goods companies were among the biggest decliners.

Troubled department store operator Nordstrom soared after the company said members of the Nordstrom family are considering taking the company private.

Investors had their eye on Washington, where former FBI Director James Comey testified to Congress that the Trump administration spread "lies" about him and the FBI after his abrupt firing in May.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up a fraction to 2,433.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 8 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 21,182. The Nasdaq increased 24 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,321.

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11:45 a.m.

Banks led U.S. stock indexes slightly higher in midday trading, recouping some of their losses from a day earlier.

Regions Financial jumped 3.8 percent Thursday.

Utilities and real estate companies were among the biggest decliners.

Investors had their eye on Washington, where former FBI Director James Comey testified to Congress that the Trump administration spread "lies" about him and the FBI after his abrupt firing in May.

Troubled department store operator Nordstrom soared 11 percent after the company said members of the Nordstrom family are considering taking the company private.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up a fraction to 2,433.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 25 points, or 0.1 percent, to 21,198. The Nasdaq increased 10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,307.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are wavering between small gains and losses in early trading on Wall Street as declines in energy and materials companies cancel out modest gains in banks.

Among energy companies, Occidental Petroleum slipped 1.4 percent early Thursday and Sempra Energy lost 1.7 percent. The price of oil continued to move lower.

Troubled department store operator Nordstrom soared 14 percent after the company said members of the Nordstrom family are considering taking the company private.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was little changed at 2,432.

The Dow Jones industrial average inched up 5 points to 21,179. The Nasdaq composite slipped 2 points to 6,295.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 2.19 percent.