For the week, favorable corporate earnings reports and a 2.6% annual rate of growth for the fourth-quarter GDP helped buoy investors’ confidence in equities. The market kicked off the week with indices again closing in new record territory on Monday. Stocks stepped up as the Senate arrived at a deal to resume full government activity. Energy sector brands traded up to a 52-week peak level. Mixed moves were on deck Tuesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the trading session fractionally in the red. The S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite hit new record levels. Moves were again mixed on Wednesday, when this time, the Dow closed at a new record level while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ shed some points. On Thursday, both the Dow and S&P 500 moved up to new all-time heights while the NASDAQ ended fractionally in the red for the day. In economic news, Department of Labor data showed initial jobless claims ticked up by 17,000 to 233,000 last week. Additionally, the latest report from the National Association of Realtors showed that total existing-home sales fell 3.6% in December from November’s total. However, sales increased 1.1% in 2017 to a 5.51 million sales pace—the highest rate in 11 years. The week ended with indices landing in new record territory on Friday. Brands stepped up on a variety of earnings and economic news. On another note, crude oil hit a two-year peak. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 1.0% to settle at $66.14 per barrel. Looking elsewhere, Commerce Department data showed the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter, just shy of an expected pace of 3.0%.
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