US SandP 500 index hits all-time high.

The SandP 500 touched a record high for the second straight session on Friday as hopes of trade talks between Washington and Beijing were lifted by US Vice President Mike Pence's decision to defer a planned speech on China policy.

The decision was taken amid "positive signs" that trade talks with China could be back on track, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior administration official.

The benchmark SandP 500 index hit an intraday high of 2,964.15 on Friday, but retreated into a tight range as rising tensions between the United States and Iran kept investors on edge.

The United States and China have said they would restart their trade talks after a lull at the Group of 20 summit in Japan next week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 45.72 points, or 0.17%, at 26,798.89 and the...