Stocks close at records

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs on Monday, fueled by Tesla Inc and other heavyweight growth stocks ahead of a deluge of earnings reports this week. The Nasdaq’s record high close confirmed the end of an 11% correction in the index that began after its previous record high close on Feb. 12, with the index closing at a low on March 8. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.18% to end at 33,981.57 points, while the S&P 500 gained 0.18% to 4,187.62. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.87% to 14,138.78.

European stocks ended higher as strong metals prices boosted miners, while a rise in bond yields supported shares of major banks amid optimism the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic had passed. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 0.3% higher after its first weekly loss in eight last week. Basic resources stocks were among the best performers for the day, rising 1.9% to a 10-year closing high. Travel and leisure stocks rose 1.8% to a record closing high after a top European Union official said Americans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 should be able to travel to Europe by summer.

Maltese markets also rose, with the MSE Equity Total Return Index closing up 0.27 percent at 8,274.112 points. International Hotel Investments Plc led the gains with shares up 7.69 percent at €0.70, followed by Malta International Airport Plc, up 0.81 percent at €6.25. RS2 Software Plc posted the largest drop, with shares down 8 percent at €1.84.

Source: Reuters, Malta Stock Exchange

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