Dow rallies to fifth straight gain, stocks buttressed by energy, tech gains

U.S. stocks ended solidly higher on Wednesday, with major indexes shaking off early weakness as both energy and technology gains led broad markets higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8% to 24,544, rising for a fifth straight session. The S&P 500 added 1% to 2,698. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1% to 7,340, gaining for a fourth straight session. Energy stocks led on the day, gaining 2% after President Donald Trump's decision a day earlier to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal and resume sanctions against the oil-producing nation. Among notable stocks, Exxon Mobil Corp. gained 2.4% while Chevron Corp. was up 1.7%. Boosting technology stocks was Facebook Inc. which rose 2.1%, and Google-parent Alphabet Inc. which gained 2.9%. The Cboe Volatility index fell 7.7% and was on track to settle at its lowest level in about three months.

Read the full story: Stock market advances as energy, financials surge