NEW YORK - Wall Street ended Tuesday mixed, with an analyst's upgrade of General Motors Corp. carrying the Dow Jones industrials to a fresh six-year high and within reach of its best-ever close. Dell Inc.'s profit warning put a dent in the tech sector.

The Dow pressed toward its all-time closing high although investors anxiously awaited the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates when policymakers meet Wednesday. Many on Wall Street are hoping the Fed will signal that an end to its rate tightening is near.

But analysts say the Dow is poised to break its record and could push higher. Ken Tower, chief market strategist for Schwab's CyberTrader, said investors appeared increasingly optimistic about the market, especially after stocks held onto their sharp gains from the end of last week.

The Dow rose 55.23, or 0.48 percent, to 11,639.77. The index of 30 blue-chip stocks is 83 points from its all-time closing high of 11,722.98, reached Jan. 14, 2000.

Broader stock indicators finished mixed. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 0.48, or 0.04 percent, to 1,325.14, and the Nasdaq composite index slid 6.74, or 0.29 percent, to 2,338.25.

PHOENIX - Shares of US Airways Group Inc. surged more than 9 percent Tuesday after the airline posted a first-quarter profit, surprising analysts who expected a loss for the quarter.

The Tempe-based airline, created in September by the combination of bankrupt US Airways and America West Airlines, reported quarterly earnings of $65 million, or 76 cents per share, compared with a loss of $174 million, or $6.58 per share, a year ago. Excluding special items, the company posted a profit of $5 million, or 5 cents per share, versus a loss of $16 million, or $1.09 per share, in the year-earlier quarter.

"Those guys deserve the accolades," said Ray Neidl, an analyst with Calyon Securities Inc. who tracks the airline industry and estimated a 20 cent per-share loss for the quarter. "Making a profit in the first quarter with $75 per barrel oil is quite a feat."

Shares of US Airways rose $4.33, or 9.15 percent, to close Tuesday at $51.63 on the New York Stock Exchange, its highest level since shares in the new company began trading in September 2005.

NEW YORK - The retailer Home Depot Inc. agreed on Tuesday to acquire home improvement loan provider EnerBank USA from CMS Energy Corp., a Michigan-based energy holding company.

Home Depot officials said the deal is part of a strategy to expand its business with contractors and emphasized that the retailer has no plans to get into banking. EnerBank originates loans used for home improvement projects like window replacements, heating and air conditioning upgrades and landscaping.

"This is a financial service that the contractor provides to his or her customer. It's a natural fit," said Frank Blake, executive vice president, business development and corporate operations at Home Depot, which is based in Atlanta.

Home Depot has in recent months begun rolling out such services as lower insurance costs and other benefits to its contractors. Blake noted it won't be a "big sales" driver."

OAK BROOK, Ill. - McDonald's Corp. reported its largest monthly sales increase Tuesday in more than a year, announcing a 6.2 percent rise in global same-store sales in April boosted by unusually strong sales in Europe and continuing momentum in the United States.

U.S. restaurants saw same-store sales grow 4.1 percent, bolstered by demand for chicken sandwiches, a booming breakfast business and extended hours. The increase was 6.5 percent in the region encompassing the Asia/Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, driven by strong sales in Japan and Australia, the company said.

DALLAS - Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday it swung to a first-quarter profit, helped by a decline in expenses for bad debt, but the company's shares fell after a federal agency said it was seeking to bar one of Tenet's hospitals from government healthcare programs.

The Dallas-based company posted a profit of $70 million or 15 cents per share, compared to a loss of $4 million or a penny per share a year earlier.

Tenet, one of the nation's largest hospital operators, said net income from continuing operations after excluding some one-time costs was $15 million, or 3 cents per share.

Shares of Tenet fell 37 cents, or 4.6 percent, to close at $7.59 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, less than a dollar above their 52-week low.

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