US benchmark S&P 500 index ended higher and edged closer to its record high on Thursday as bank stocks got a boost from the prospect of higher interest rates and consumer discretionary stocks were helped by economic data and earnings.

    The Dow Jones industrial average rose 35.61 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 18,903.75. The S&P 500 gained 10.16 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 2,187.1. The Nasdaq Composite added 39.39 points, or 0.74 percent, to 5,333.97.