Highlights
Gains in big technology shares paced a broad stock market advance on Monday with the Nasdaq closing at a record high. The Dow Jones industrial average firmed 0.2 percent, the broader S&P 500 gained 0.7 percent and the Nasdaq was up 1.1 percent. Bond yields and the dollar rose while oil prices declined.
Markets continued to focus on Mideast news with risk appetite bolstered by reports that Saudi oil flows were recovering, while it was hurt by more headlines suggesting no progress on diplomacy to ease the US-Iran conflict.
Strength in big tech stocks including Microsoft, Nvidia, Spacex and Tesla helped the Nasdaq outperform. In relatively quiet trading, investors focused on expectations for positive earnings news and the gains in stocks came despite another move higher in long-term bond yields.