NEW YORK, New York – U.S. stocks extended Friday’s gains on Monday, pushing the Dow Jones and S&P 500 to fresh highs, following the breaking of Friday’s record closings.

“Unless something goes to hell in a handbasket in the next three months, basically the markets are telling you that they want to work their way higher and will do so by the end of the year,” Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research told CNBC Monday.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 gained 29.39 points, or +0.44 percent, to finish at 6,693.75, marking a new all-time closing high. The broad-market benchmark traded in a tight range throughout the day, peaking at 6,698.88.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced by 66.27 points, or +0.14 percent, ending at 46,381.54. Blue chips were more subdued as financial and industrial shares posted mixed results, though the index still reached an intraday high of 46,447.13.

The NASDAQ Composite outperformed the other major indexes, jumping 157.50 points, or +0.70 percent, to settle at 22,788.98. The tech-heavy index was lifted by strong performances from semiconductor and AI-related stocks, continuing a trend that has driven much of 2025’s equity market surge.

Outlook
Markets are expected to remain sensitive to upcoming economic data and earnings reports later in the week. With major indexes sitting near or at record highs, analysts caution that volatility could rise if inflation or labor data surprises to the upside.

Major Currencies See Modest Moves Monday Amid Economic Caution

The foreign exchange market began the week with relatively modest shifts across major currency pairs on Monday, as traders assessed global economic data and awaited further policy signals from central banks.

The euro edged higher against the U.S. dollar, with the EUR/USD pair rising to close at 1.1797, a gain of +0.45 percent. The move reflected cautious optimism around the eurozone’s economic outlook, supported by recent inflation data suggesting a gradual cooling.

The British pound also posted gains versus the greenback, with GBP/USD up +0.41 percent, settling at 1.3516. Sterling was buoyed by improved UK consumer sentiment and a slight uptick in retail sales.

In North America, the dollar strengthened against the Canadian dollar, with USD/CAD climbing +0.38 percent to 1.38231, following weaker-than-expected Canadian housing data.

Against the Japanese yen, however, the U.S. dollar retreated slightly. The USD/JPY pair fell −0.24 to 147.72 a decline of −0.16 percent, as demand for the yen rose amid risk-averse sentiment in Asian equities.

The Swiss franc also gained ground against the dollar, with USD/CHF declining −0.32 percent to 0.7924, reflecting continued demand for safe-haven assets.

Commodity-linked currencies showed a positive tone as well. The Australian dollar rose +0.15 percent, with AUD/USD last trading at 0.6599, supported by rising metal prices. The New Zealand dollar also firmed, with NZD/USD up +0.26 percent at 0.5869, aided by signs of resilience in domestic economic activity.

Global Stock Markets Mixed Monday, as Some Asian and European Indices Slip

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index also moved higher, climbing 190.62 points, or +0.64 percent, to close at 29,958.98. The rally was supported by gains in energy and mining stocks, as commodity prices ticked higher amid global supply concerns.

UK and European markets ended Monday with modest movement, while Asia‑Pacific indices showed mixed results, as investors weighed economic signals amid uncertainty.

• In London, the FTSE 100 crept up to 9,226.68, gaining +10.01, or +0.11 percent, boosted by strength in energy and consumer‑goods sectors.

• Meanwhile in Germany, the DAX fell to 23,527.05, down 112.36, or ‑0.48 percent, pressured by weaker industrial reports.

• France’s CAC 40 closed at 7,830.11, off 23.48, or ‑0.30 percent, similarly weighed by manufacturing headwinds.

• The broader Euro‑region benchmark, the EURO STOXX 50, slipped to 5,442.05, down 16.37, or ‑0.30 percent.

• In the Netherlands, the AEX (N100) rose slightly to 1,634.68, up 1.78, or +0.11 percent.

• Belgium’s BEL 20 was almost flat, falling 1.54, or ‑0.03 percent, to 4,707.56.

Shifting to Asia and other international markets:

• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped to 26,344.14, losing 200.96, or ‑0.76 percent, amid investor caution.

• China’s SSE Composite in Shanghai rose to 3,828.58, gaining 8.49, or +0.22 percent.

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 saw a solid rise to 45,493.66, up 447.85, or +0.99 percent, helped by exporters benefiting from a weaker yen.

• Singapore’s STI slid to 4,297.37, down 5.34, or ‑0.12 percent.

• In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up: 8,810.90, a gain of 37.40, or +0.43 percent. The broader All Ordinaries also advanced to 9,102.10, up 40.90, or +0.45 percent.

• India’s Sensex (S&P BSE Sensex) fell to 82,159.97, down 466.26, or ‑0.56 percent.

• Indonesia’s IDX Composite (Jakarta) eased to 8,040.04, off 11.08, or ‑0.14 percent.

• Malaysia’s FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI gained, rising to 1,603.34, up 5.11, or +0.32 percent.

• In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 Index Gross closed at 13,141.54, declining 90.12, or ‑0.68 percent.

• South Korea’s KOSPI Composite added ground, finishing at 3,468.65, up 23.41, or +0.68 percent.

• Taiwan’s TWSE Capitalization Weighted index posted one of the stronger gains: 25,880.60, up 302.23, or +1.18 percent.

• In the Middle East, Israel’s markets were closed for Rosh Hashanah.

• Egypt’s EGX‑30 Price Return Index closed at 35,210.70, down 36.30, or ‑0.10 percent.

• South Africa’s JN0U.JO ended at 6,118.86, up a modest 2.47, or +0.04 percent.

Markets appear to have been sensitive to mixed economic data and lingering concerns over global growth. European indices in particular struggled under pressure from industrial and manufacturing sectors, while some Asia‑Pacific markets posted gains, especially in Taiwan and Japan. The modest results elsewhere suggest a cautious tone among investors as they await further policy signals and corporate earnings.

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