Nasdaq ended at a record high on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Dow also rising, as gains in heavyweight tech stocks outweighed downbeat data that affirmed the Federal Reserve’s view of a difficult road to economic recovery.
Gains in Apple Inc – the only publicly listed US company to cross the $2 trillion market value milestone – Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp underpinned the three main indexes’ gains as investors bet they would ride out the economic crisis.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 46.85 points, or 0.17 percent, to 27,739.73, the S&P 500 gained 10.66 points, or 0.32 percent, to 3,385.51 and the Nasdaq Composite added 118.49 points, or 1.06 percent, to 11,264.95.
Stocks had opened lower on data that showed jobless claims rose unexpectedly back above the 1 million mark last week after slipping below that level for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Separate data from the Philadelphia Fed showed a business conditions index fell more than expected in August.
The volatility in jobless claims followed the lapse of an extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit at the end of July and came as Democrats in Congress have failed to reach an agreement with the White House on extending it.
“Investors are looking through this downturn towards a point where we will begin to get a recovery especially with the Federal Reserve backstopping the companies,” said Brian Reynolds, chief market strategist at Reynolds Strategies.
“Whether it’s right or wrong, that’s the way it is. Though, I think the market is getting a little too exuberant,” he added.
Nasdaq clocked its 19th record closing high since early June when it confirmed its recovery from the coronavirus sell-off.
Thursday’s record close was its 35th so far this year compared with 31 record closing highs in 2019 and 29 in 2018.
Despite signs that parts of the economy are still far away from pre-pandemic levels, the benchmark S&P 500 index completed its fastest recovery from a bear market this week, joining the Nasdaq in scaling new peaks.
It also confirmed a bull market for the S&P 500. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq retreated on Wednesday after minutes from the Fed’s latest policy meeting gave a somber assessment of the US economy as it grapples with the pandemic but ruled out, for now, more dovish easing policy measures.
Economically sensitive financial and energy sectors were some of the biggest percentage losers among the major S&P sectors.
Nvidia Corp was little changed at $485.64 after posting better than expected quarterly sales forecast. Intel Corp rose 1.7 percent to $49.17 after announcing a $10 billion share buyback plan.
Shares of Tesla surged past the $2,000 mark on Thursday for the first time as the electric car maker extended its recent rally ahead of an upcoming share split.
L Brands Inc advanced 3.8 percent to $29.57 after reporting a surprise quarterly profit, boosted by strong demand for Bath & Body Works’ products as well as higher online sales of Victoria’s Secret lingerie.
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.54-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.46-to-1 ratio favored decliners.
The S&P 500 posted 18 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 66 new highs and 28 new lows.
