Stocks clinch fourth-straight gain on easing fears around U.S.-China trade
U.S. stocks extended their strong run on Wednesday, booking gains for a fourth straight session, after reports suggesting Washington and Beijing had made some headway in resolving differences over trade. The S&P 500 ended higher by 0.4% to around 2,585. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 91 points, or 0.4%, to end near 23,878, based on preliminary numbers. The Nasdaq Composite logged an 0.9% gain to end near 6,957. Trade talks between U.S. and China concluded on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump reportedly urging a deal soon to boost the stock market. Investors also kept an eye on the Federal Reserve after a raft of speeches from senior Fed officials and minutes from the December meeting all highlighted the central bank's shift to a more patient approach in 2019. On the companies front, shares of Chesapeake Energy Corp. jumped 12% after the energy firm's fourth-quarter production outlook topped expectations.
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