NEW YORK (July 9, 2009)—Stocks edged higher Thursday as investors put money into banking and industrial stocks as well as commodities.

Investors worried about the economy have been cautious to buy up stocks, even after heavy selling Tuesday made shares look relatively cheap.

Investors were encouraged by better-than-expected results from aluminum maker Alcoa Inc.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 5 at 8,183.

The S&P 500 index was up 3 at 883.

The Nasdaq composite index was up 5 at 1,753.

About three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1 billion shares.