U.S. stocks rose in early trading on Wednesday, in the latest example of investors ignoring escalating tensions between the U.S. and China on trade policy to focus instead on improving economic fundamentals.
The day’s gains were widespread, with nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors higher on the day. Material and financial stocks were among the biggest gainers, up 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively.
Where are the major benchmarks trading?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.65% rose 112 points, or 0.4%, to 26,356, leaving it within 1% of its all-time high. The S&P 500 SPX, +0.07% added 5 points to 2,909, a gain of 0.2% that put it just 0.2% below record levels. The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -0.42% climbed 0.1% to 7,964, a rise of 7.5 points.
