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

4:00 p.m.

U.S. stock indexes closed barely higher, led by gains in energy companies as the price of crude oil rose for the fifth day in a row.

Hess jumped 4 percent Monday and rig operator Transocean increased 2.6 percent.

Phone companies were the biggest laggard Monday. AT&T lost 0.5 percent.

Trucking companies Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation rose sharply on news the companies have agreed to combine. Swift jumped 23.7 percent and Knight climbed 13.4 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1 point, less than 0.1 percent, to 2,357.

The Dow Jones industrial average also gained 1 point, less than 0.1 percent, to 20,658. The Nasdaq edged up 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,880.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.36 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Energy companies led U.S. stock indexes to modest gains in midday trading as the price of crude oil headed higher.

Hess rose 3.6 percent and rig operator Transocean increased 2.8 percent.

Elsewhere, banks and phone companies lagged the market. Regions Financial fell 1.1 percent and AT&T lost 0.4 percent.

Trucking companies Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation rose sharply on news the companies have agreed to combine. Swift jumped 22 percent and Knight climbed 12 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1 point, or 0.1 percent, to 2,356.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 13 points, or 0.1 percent, to 20,669. The Nasdaq composite was flat at 5,878.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.36 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening modestly higher on Wall Street, led by gains in energy and industrial companies.

Oil companies were rising along with the price of crude early Monday. Hess rose 2.2 percent and rig operator Transocean increased 1.4 percent.

Among industrial companies, transportation company Ryder System 1.7 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,360.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 36 points, or 0.2 percent, to 20,693. The Nasdaq composite climbed 16 points, or 0.3 percent, to 5,894.