US stocks end higher

The Dow and S&P 500 finished at record highs on Thursday as data showed further strength in the US economy and Intel gave an upbeat forecast. Tech shares gave the market its biggest lift, along with energy. Boosting all three major indexes, Intel shares jumped 4.7 per cent to $35.95, hitting their highest level since January 2002, after its 2015 revenue outlook was above Wall Street's expectations and the company raised its dividend. The S&P technology index rose 0.6 per cent, while the energy index gained 1.1 per cent. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 33.27 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 17,719, a record close. The S&P 500 gained 4.03 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,052.75, its 44th record high this year. The Nasdaq Composite added 26.16 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 4,701.87. Best Buy added 7 per cent to $38.02, among the S&P's largest percentage gainers, after better-than-expected profit. Gap shares fell 4.9 per cent to $38.19 following its results. Gap shares ended the regular session up 1.5 per cent, according to Reuters.