US STOCKS-Wall Street sustains record-setting climb on upbeat economic data

* November manufacturing and housing data beat expectations
* S&P touches fresh record high
* Netflix shares advance on overseas growth
* Indexes up: Dow 0.2%, S&P and Nasdaq 0.1%

(Updates to late afternoon, changes byline, adds NEW YORK
dateline)
By April Joyner
NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks inched
higher on Tuesday, extending their record-setting rally, as
strong housing and manufacturing data bolstered investors'
confidence in the U.S. economy.
The benchmark S&P 500 .SPX touched a record high for the
fourth straight session and was set to build on its 27% gain
this year, which has been driven by progress toward a U.S.-China
trade agreement, a dovish Federal Reserve and upbeat economic
indicators.
U.S. housing starts increased more than expected in
November, and building permits rose that month to the highest
level since May 2007. Data from the Federal Reserve also showed
manufacturing output picked up more than expected in November,
as the end of a strike at General Motors Co GM.N boosted
automobile production. "It shows that we're continuing to see benefits from lower
interest rates," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist
at Inverness Counsel in New York. "That is resulting in better
economic data."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 52.34 points,
or 0.19%, to 28,288.23, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 2.36 points,
or 0.07%, to 3,193.81 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added
9.55 points, or 0.11%, to 8,823.78.
S&P 500 financial stocks .SPSY , which tend to be
economically sensitive, rose 0.6% on the upbeat data. Financials
led in percentage gains among S&P 500 sectors.
Shares of Home Depot Inc HD.N rose 1.3% on the housing
data and were among the biggest boosts to the Dow. Shares of
rival Lowe's Cos Inc LOW.N dipped slightly, however, after
having risen earlier in the session.
Netflix Inc NFLX.O shares rose 3.9%, among the biggest
percentage gains on the S&P 500, after the streaming service
provider said its overseas growth, particularly its Asia-Pacific
business, was accelerating.
Apple Inc AAPL.O shares touched a fresh record high and
last posted marginal gains, up 0.3%.
Shares of Boeing Co BA.N , which said it would suspend
production of its 737 MAX jet, reversed course to eke out a 0.1%
gain.
Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a
1.63-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.26-to-1 ratio favored advancers.
The S&P 500 posted 45 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the
Nasdaq Composite recorded 151 new highs and 50 new lows.