The Dow and the S&P 500 closed at new all-time highs on Tuesday. Brands such as Home Depot, Merck and JPMorgan Chase bolstered the Dow’s ascent. Stocks prospered on Federal Reserve comments. Speaking in Frankfurt, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the central bank should continue its bond buying to boost growth that is slower than expected. Meanwhile, crude oil futures shed 75 cents today to settle at $96.18 a barrel. Looking ahead, home-improvement retailer Lowe’s will issue quarterly results tomorrow.