U.S. stocks rose near their record levels. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% Wednesday and pulled within 0.6% of its all-time high set in late October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 408 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%. Stocks got help from easing Treasury yields in the bond market following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. One suggested hiring was much weaker in November than economists expected, while a second said growth for U.S. services businesses was better than expected. They kept alive hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. Bitcoin rose back above $93,000.