Dow Jones hits 5th record close since October-start

US stocks closed higher on Wednesday, paring losses from the previous session, as Treasury yields declined amid anticipation of more economic data to gauge the outlook for monetary policy.

By the end of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8%, or 337 points, to settle at 43,077 points, marking the index's fifth record close since the start of October.

The S&P 500 rose by 0.45%, or 27 points, to 5,842 points, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.3%, or 51 points, closing at 18,367 points.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.2% to 519.6 points, marking its second consecutive decline.

The FTSE 100 climbed 0.95% to 8,329 points, while Germany’s DAX slipped 0.25% to 19,432 points, and France’s CAC dropped 0.4% to 7,492 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei retreated 1.85%, or 730 points, to 39,180 points, and the broader Topix index fell 1.2% to 2,690 points.

As for oil markets, Brent crude futures for December delivery settled at $74.22 per barrel.

Meanwhile, New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) futures for November delivery dropped 0.25%, or 19 cents, to $70.39 per barrel.

As for gold, December futures for the yellow metal rose 0.45%, or $12.4, to $2,691.30 per ounce.