NEW YORK, Dec 15 ― US stocks ended firmer yesterday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average notching its second straight record high close, lifted by optimism that borrowing rates will decrease next year following a dovish pivot by the Federal Reserve.

Apple hit an intra-day record high before surrendering some of its gains to close up 0.08 per cent.

Tesla shares surged 4.9 per cent, with about US$40 billion (RM187 billion) worth changing hands. Its turnover was more than double that of Nvidia, the next most traded company. The heavyweight chipmaker gained 0.5 per cent.

Sectors that have underperformed this year also rose. Of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes, six closed higher, led by energy, up 2.94 per cent, followed by a 2.62 per cent gain in real estate.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.26 per cent to end at 4,719.55 points. It remains down less than 2% from its record high close in January 2022.

The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.19 per cent at 14,761.56 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.43 per cent to 37,248.35 points.

Volume on US exchanges was unusually heavy, with 17.1 billion shares traded, compared to an average of 11.1 billion shares over the previous 20 sessions.

The PHLX semiconductor index surged 2.7 per cent to close at a record high. The Russell Index of smaller companies also jumped about 2.7 per cent.

The Fed left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, as expected, with Chair Jerome Powell saying the historic tightening of monetary policy was likely over, as inflation falls faster than expected, and discussions on cuts in borrowing costs were coming "into view.”

Investors were closely watching 10-year Treasury yields, which broke below 4 per cent for the first time since early August in the wake of the Fed statement. They were last down at 3.94 per cent.

"The market by any measure and any metric is overbought and has been overbought, and a consolidation or a pause has been expected, especially after yesterday's surge,” said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"While the market celebrates lower rates, it can question why yields are below 4%” as investors weigh the economic outlook, she added.

Adobe fell 6.35 per cent after the Photoshop maker forecast annual and quarterly revenue below estimates.

US retail sales unexpectedly rose in November as the holiday shopping season got off to a brisk start, further alleviating fears of a recession, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

Advancing issues outnumbered falling ones within the S&P 500 by a 1.9-to-one ratio.

The S&P 500 posted 96 new highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 259 new highs and 64 new lows. ― Reuters