The ADP National Employment Report showed that U.S. private employers added 250,000 jobs in December, marking the biggest monthly increase since March, and much above the 190,000 job additions forecast by economists polled by Reuters.
“Economic data tomorrow is not going to be tremendously spectacular, but what we’re seeing is very positive growth, a good economic backdrop that gives people more confidence in corporate earnings,” said Aaron Anderson, senior vice president of research at Fisher Investments.
The Federal Reserve affirming its view of gradual interest rate hikes this year in minutes released on Wednesday also supported the sentiment.
World stocks also hit records, driven by strong manufacturing and services sector data in major economies.
Seven of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, led by gains in the financial index.
Wells Fargo rose about 2 percent, JPMorgan 1.3 percent and Goldman Sachs 1 percent, as the strong data raised the odds of further rate hikes.
Tesla’s shares slipped 2.7 percent after the electric car maker delayed a production target for its new Model 3 sedan for the second time.
Sprint shares fell about 5 percent after the wireless carrier appointed former Altice NV Chief Executive Michel Combes as chief financial officer.
Victoria’s Secret-owner L Brands slid 13 percent on disappointing quarterly earnings forecast.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,820 to 736. On the Nasdaq, 1,787 issues rose and 638 fell.
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