Blue-chip stocks clocked their eighth straight day of gains, closing at a fresh 17-month high as industrials climbed on a brightening manufacturing outlook. But slipping commodity prices weighed on the broader market and investors fretted over potential policy changes under debate in Washington. The S&P 500 slipped 0.03%, with energy stocks leading the decline as crude-oil prices slipped. View Full Image Getty Images The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 45 points, or 0.4%, at 10779. Boeing was its best performer, up 2.1%, while 3M climbed 1.8% and DuPont rose 1.6%. The gains came after the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that manufacturing and business activity continued to climb in the mid-Atlantic area. The Dow's gains mark the longest advancing streak since late August 2009. The gains have been modest but steady, leaving the index up 2.15% over the past eight sessions. Also helping stocks were reports showed consumer prices last month were flat in February and that initial jobless claims declined last week.[Read more...]