YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: For the second straight session the 1100 line kept a cap on the S&P 500, but the benchmark index still managed to make a modest gain despite a lack of legitimate catalysts.

Early weakness had stocks start the session in negative territory. At its low the S&P 500 was down 0.6% as support just above the 1085 line helped limit losses.

A modest bid for tech stocks helped pull the major averages out of their midmorning funk. Financials eventually joined in the effort and soon the broader market was sporting a solid gain. Despite their leadership, the S&P 500 failed to breach the 1100 line and faded into the close for the second straight session.

Shares of retailers held on to enviable gains, though. Led by Target (TGT 51.95, +1.27), which reported in-line earnings and expressed comfort with the consensus earnings forecast in its conference call, the group finished with a 1.7% gain.

The latest quarterly announcement from Deere & Co (DE 65.98, -1.25) featured a better-than-expected bottom line and a strong outlook, but shares of the industrial play fell behind.

Potash (POT 147.93, +4.76) continued to attract attention amid news that an acquisition proposal from BHP Billiton (BHP 68.18, -2.03) has been taken directly to POT shareholders.

Energy stocks were the worst performers of the day. The sector surrendered 1.1% as oil and gas equipment plays and drillers were shunned.

Lower oil prices didn't help the energy sector's prospects, but the commodity still slashed its losses. Crude oil futures prices closed 0.5% lower at $75.42 per barrel after they were down more than 2% in the early going. The price swing followed the latest oil inventory data, which actually showed a smaller-than-expected draw of 818,000 barrels.

Gold prices also made a swing for the better. Prices were as low as $1218 per ounce, but settled with a 0.3% gain at $1231.40 per ounce. The move flew in the face of the greenback's bounce from a 0.4% loss to a 0.1% gain.

Five of the six major commodity groups closed near the neutral line - only livestock made a strong move as it rallied 2.4% amid a 3.3% climb in lean hogs - so the CRB Commodity Index settled with a slight loss of just 0.1%. It had been down as much as 1.1%.

September crude oil futures prices closed lower by 0.5% at $75.42 per barrel. Though that marked oil's sixth slide in seven days, the loss wasn't nearly as severe as what had appeared to be taking shape in the early going, when prices were down more than 2%.

Oil prices improved their position following the release of oil inventory data for the week ending August 13. The data showed a smaller-than-expected draw of 818,000 barrels.

Natural gas prices never found much support. Instead, the commodity closed with a 0.8% loss at $4.24 per MMBtu.

Among precious metals plays, December gold futures rebounded from session lows of $1218 per ounce to settle with a 0.3% gain at $1231.40 per ounce. September silver tried to stage a swing, but it still logged a 1.1% loss as it settled at $18.40 per ounce.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury Note finished flat after a solid start, but the 30-year Bond closed with a gain of about 16 ticks.

Advancing Sectors: Consumer Discretionary (+0.9%), Telecom (+0.7%), Tech (+0.5%), Materials (+0.4%), Financials (+0.4%), Industrials (+0.1%), Consumer Staples (+0.1%)
Declining Sectors: Energy (-1.1%), Utilities (-0.5%), Health Care (-0.1%)DJ30 +9.69 NASDAQ +6.26 NQ100 +0.3% R2K +0.3% SP400 +0.3% SP500 +1.62 NASDAQ Adv/Vol/Dec 1315/1.67 bln/1282 NYSE Adv/Vol/Dec 1760/922 mln/1234