us stock indexes headed for a third straight gain and the sp 500 was aiming for trade in recordclose territory on thursday ahead of the long christmas holiday weekend amid optimism that global economies wont be derailed by the omicron variant of covid markets in the us will be closed on friday in observance of christmas the sp 500 index spx was trading up 05 at 4719 well above its dec 10 record close at 471202 the dow jones industrial average djia was 05 higher at 35944 while the nasdaq composite index comp advancing 03 to reach 15561 investors were parsing a batch of data ahead of the holiday weekly jobless claims were unchanged at 205000 in the week ended dec 18 while consumer spending and personal spending nudged higher the 12month pce inflation indicator rose 57 in november while durable goods orders rose 25 forthe month meanwhile orders for durable goods increased 25 in november the commerce department said thursday economists had forecast a 15 gain in orders for durable goods which are products made to last at least three years