Dow Jones logs record close for 2nd straight session

US stocks ended Monday’s session higher, supported by positive performance in the technology sector and as investors awaited the monthly jobs report and consumer price inflation data due later this week.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by less than 0.05%, adding 20 points to 50,135, marking a fresh record close after finishing last week above the 50,000-point level for the first time in its history.

The broader S&P 500 advanced 0.47%, or 32 points, to 6,964, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.90%, or 207 points, to 23,238.

In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.70% to 621 points, extending its year-to-date gains to 4.93%.

The UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.16% to 10,386 points, Germany’s DAX added 1.19% to 25,014 points, and France’s CAC 40 increased 0.60% to 8,323 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 surged 3.90% to 56,363 points, closing above the 56,000 level for the first time ever, while the broader TOPIX jumped 2.30% to a record high of 3,783 points.

In oil markets, April delivery futures for benchmark Brent Crude rose 1.45%, or 99 cents, to $69.04 per barrel.

U.S. WTI Crude futures for March delivery climbed 1.27%, or 81 cents, to $64.36 per barrel.

As for gold, April delivery futures for the precious metal advanced 2%, or $99.6, to $5,079.40 per ounce.