The S&P 500 Index hit its first record high in more than a year on Monday, as stocks traded well into the green zone as a result of stronger-than-expected employment numbers for June. Earnings season kicked off after the closing bell. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 hit new record heights, and Energy stocks gained on a jump in crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on 4.6% to settle at $46.77 a barrel. Indices closed with mixed moves on Wednesday. The Dow and S&P 500 posted marginal gains to close at new record levels once again, while the NASDAQ shed some points. West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 3.85% to settle at $45 a barrel, likely causing Energy stocks to trade lower. Details released from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report showed economic activity increased at a modest rate since mid-May amid slight price pressures and a small decline in consumer spending. Indices closed trading with gains on Thursday with crude oil rebounding from Wednesday’s downswing. Elsewhere, initial jobless claims held steady last week, as Labor Department data showed new claims remained at an addition of 254,000 for a second week straight. Additionally, continuing claims increased by 32,000 to 2.149 million in the week ending July 2, 2016. The markets closed with mixed moves on Friday. The Dow hit a new record while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ ended fractionally in the red for the session. West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled at $45.99 a barrel. In economic news, retail sales jumped up by an unexpected 0.6% in June. Economists had expected a lesser 0.1% gain. Advances at home-improvement and garden retailers led the ascent.
