The Nasdaq composite index topped 4,000 for the first time and Dow Jones industrial soared more than 200 points into record territory today as stocks moved sharply higher in a broad-based rally.
At the close on Wall Street, the Nasdaq composite was up 32.14 to 3,969.44, after hitting a high of 4,001.63 earlier. The Nasdaq has already set 12 closing highs this month. The technology-dominated index, which is now up 80 per cent, first soared above 3,000 on November 3rd.
The Dow rose 202.16 to 11,405.76, surpassing its closing high of 11,326.04, set on August 25th. And the Standard and Poor's 500 index also reached a new high close, rising 22.22 to 1,458.35.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a five-to-three margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,936 up, 1,150 down and 478 unchanged.
NYSE volume totalled 726.9 million shares at the close compared to 844.2 million in Wednesday's session.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 4.49 to 482.43.
