American Airlines, which has added flights to India and China in recent years, is set to launch its first service from the United States to Moscow, opening a new front in its competition with Delta Air Lines Inc.

Wall Street posted a modest advance today after blue-chips including Alcoa extended their gains.

Stocks gained today, narrowing the week’s losses as the energy and basic materials sectors improved and Dow components Exxon Mobil Corp and Intel Corp climbed on upgrades.

A drop in crude oil futures pushed stocks modestly higher in the United States today, helped by government predictions of lower gasoline prices.

Wall Street had a surge of optimism today, sending stocks higher after investors interpreted a Federal Reserve report on the economy as a sign that the Fed’s year-long string of interest rate hikes may be nearing an end.