The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up by +0.01%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.03%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up by +0.18%.
Stocks today are treading water this afternoon. Earlier in the day the S&P 500 climbing to a 2-month high, the Dow Jones Industrials posting a new record high, and the Nasdaq 100 rising to a 2-1/2 week high. Today's positive corporate and economic news has boosted optimism in the US economic outlook and is pushing stocks higher. Intel is up more than +3% after the chipmaker won new business from Amazon.com. Also, Microsoft is up +1% after it raised its quarterly dividend by 10% and announced a new $60 billion stock repurchase program. Stocks maintained moderate gains after strength in today’s US retail sales and manufacturing production reports supported the outlook for a soft landing.
