Dow Jones closes at record high above 49,000 points

US stocks ended the Jan. 6 session at a new record high, as investors absorbed geopolitical developments and shifted their focus toward the outlook for monetary policy and the economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1%, or 484 points, to 49,462, setting a new record close.

The broader S&P 500 index gained 0.60%, or 42 points, ending at an all-time high of 6,944 points, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.65%, or 151 points, to 23,547.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.58% to 605.28 points, with positive performance across most sectors and major exchanges.

Germany’s DAX surged 1% to 24,892 points, France’s CAC 40 increased 0.32% to 8,237 points, while London’s FTSE 100 soared 1.18% to 10,122 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% to 52,518 points, marking its highest level on record, while the broader Topix index soared 1.75% to close at a record high of 3,538 points.

In oil markets, Brent crude futures for March delivery dropped 1.7%, or $1.06, to $60.70 a barrel.

US WTI crude futures for February delivery fell 2%, or $1.19, to $57.13 a barrel.

Gold futures for February delivery increased 1%, or $44.6, to settle at $4,496.10 per ounce, closing near their record high of $4,552.70 recorded in late December.