Dow Ekes Out 8 Straight With Another Record Close

All three major indexes extended last week's gains

Laura McCandless

Deputy Editor

Dec 18, 2023 at 4:23 PM

Fresh off their seventh-straight weekly wins, all three major benchmarks kicked off the week with gains. The Dow and Nasdaq nabbed eight-straight wins today, the former with yet another record finish and the latter with a hefty gain. The S&P 500 continued its rally as well, marking its seventh day in the black in the last eight sessions. Meanwhile, The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) monthly confidence index rose for the first time in five months after mortgage rates fell.

Call traders got ahead of semiconductor news.
Defense stock flashing historically bullish signal.
Plus, analyst sunny on solar; Illumina selling Grail; and a big-time steel merger.

indexesdec18

nysedec18

5 Things to Know Today

Amazon (AMZN) is making moves on the sports streaming front, reportedly in talks to invest in Diamond Sports Group. (MarketWatch)
China's iPhone ban is spreading, with more of the country's firms ordering staff not to bring them to work. (Bloomberg)
Solar stock brushes off sector tailwinds.
Illumina stock boosted after selling embattled unit.
Steel stock soars on billion-dollar acquisition.

There were no earnings of note today.

Oil, Gold on the Rise

Oil prices rose as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea raised supply concerns. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for January delivery rose $1.04, or 1.5%, to settle at $72.47 a barrel.

Gold prices rose today amid weakness in bond yields. February-dated gold futures are up $5.00, or 0.3%, at 2,040.70 per ounce at last look.

Follow @Schaeffers

Are You Ready for AI's Potential Supercycle Phase?
Amazon's Jeff Bezos surprised investors when he revealed that one emerging technology is the key to Amazon's future success... This technology could be worth $80 trillion by 2030. Learn more and join Motley Fool's Stock Advisor for 50% off!

“Buy This Stock Now!” - Expert Who Called 11x On TSLA

He called a rare 11x on Tesla…

But now, thanks to Elon & Trump’s new alliance…

He says there’s a new opportunity that could be 1,000x BIGGER than Tesla – and it could completely revolutionize a $23 Trillion market.

It’s trading for less than $5 per share right now…

But it won’t be under the radar for long.

Discover The 1,000x Bigger Elon Opportunity Here

Featured Articles from Trusted Partners:

👀Learn How Dividends Create Passive Income for Life
Receive $200 Off Motley Fool Epic. The Motley Fool Epic $299 discounted offer is based on $499/year list price. Introductory promotion for new members only. Take control of your money and your portfolio with Motley Fool Epic.

💵New Income System Could Pay You $4,243 Monthly
You could collect an average of $4,243 per month starting as early as next week with a new payout system for income investors. New registrations are being accepted for investors who want to be in a position to start with their first payout next week.

🚀Easy 92% Crypto Dividends (No Coins Required)
COIN stock doesn't pay a dividend... But there's actually a new way to collect a massive dividend that's indirectly based on the stock and offers a terrific monthly income (currently yielding nearly 92% on a forward basis).

🤝Free Advisor Match with Wiseradvisor.com
Don't leave your retirement to chance! Get matched with a trusted financial expert for FREE and make the most of your tax refund. Get started now.

⚠️Dennis Quaid's #1 Warning for Americans
Here's the thing: life doesn't come with guarantees. The economy shifts, markets stumble, and years of hard work could slip through your fingers like sand. But it doesn't have to be that way for you. So request a free copy of this Gold & Silver Guide that will arrive right to your doorstep when you act now.