Tuesday, the Dow closed 73.92 points (0.28%) higher at 26,909.43, the NASDAQ was down 3.28 points (0.04%) at 8,084.16, and the S&P 500 was virtually unchanged at 2,979.39. The Russell 2000 gained 18.76 points (1.23%) to close at 1,542.99, and the Wilshire 5000 increased 41.87 points (0.14%) to 30,468.02.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note decreased 30/32, bringing its yield up to 1.736%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond fell 1 31/32, increasing its yield to 2.219%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1609, explorer Henry Hudson sailed into New York harbor and discovered Manhattan Island and the Hudson River. In 1777, American forces, under General George Washington, were forced to retreat at the Battle of Brandywine Creek by British forces under William Howe. The Stars and Stripes (American flag) were carried for the first time in the battle. In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed by President George Washington to be the first secretary of the treasury. In 1883, the mail chute was patented by James Cutler. The new device was first used in the Elwood Building in Rochester, New York. In 1936, Boulder Dam in Nevada was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt by turning on the dam’s first hydroelectric generator. The dam is now called Hoover Dam. In 1941, in Arlington, Virginia, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pentagon took place. In 1952, Dr. Charles Hufnagel successfully replaced a diseased aorta valve with an artificial valve made of plastic. In 1954, the Miss America beauty pageant made its network TV debut on ABC. Miss California, Lee Ann Meriwether, was the winner. In 1959, Congress passed a bill authorizing the creation of food stamps. In 1977, the Atari 2600 was released. In 1997, John Lee Hooker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997, Scotland voted to create its own Parliament after 290 years of union with England. In 2001, in the U.S., four airliners were hijacked and were intentionally crashed. Two airliners hit the World Trade Center, which collapsed shortly after, in New York City. One airliner hit the Pentagon. Another airliner crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed. In 2012, terrorists attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were brutally murdered and ten others were injured.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: “When I told my doctor I couldn’t afford an operation, he offered to touch-up my X-rays.”—Henny Youngman, comedian