U.S. stocks crept to a record as the S&P 500 nudged higher after a quiet Tuesday of trading. The main measure of Wall Street's health rose 0.2% to finish just above its all-time closing high set last month.

The S&P 500 flirted with a record as U.S. stock-market investors returned from a three-day weekend, awaiting minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting and data due later this week.