U.S. stocks rose to fresh record highs on Tuesday, boosted by strong earnings reports from Wal-Mart and other retailers and continued optimism about the economic agenda of President Donald Trump. More than one in every six stocks on the S&P 500 hit a new 52-week high as a post-election rally extended. Aside from Wal-Mart, shares of department store operator Macy's and home improvement chain Home Depot rose modestly after their quarterly reports. Overall profit for S&P 500 companies is estimated to have risen 7.5 percent in the fourth quarter, Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S said in a report last Friday. The S&P 500 posted 88 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 204 new highs and 24 new lows.

Source: dna February 21, 2017 19:30 UTC