US stocks notched a fourth straight record close Tuesday with a rally in banks after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen signaled that the central bank could gradually raise interest rates sooner rather than later.

    The S&P 500 index SPX, +0.40% finished up 9.33 points, or 0.4%, at a record 2,337.58. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.45% gained 92.25 points, or 0.5%, to close at a record 20,504.41.

    The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.32% rose 18.62 points, or 0.3%, to close at a record 5,782.57.