Stocks Ended Mostly Higher, S&P 500 Posted Best January since 1987

U.S. stocks ended mostly higher on Thursday, with the S&P 500 posting its best January since 1987, as strong earnings results from major names buoyed stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 15.19 points, or 0.06%, to 24,999.67. The S&P 500 added 23.05 points, or 0.86%, to 2,704.10. The Nasdaq Composite gained 98.66 points, or 1.37%, to 7,281.74.

U.S. benchmark oil futures fell Thursday, but still finished the month with an 18% gain—the strongest monthly rise in nearly three years. WTI crude for March delivery US:CLG9 fell by 44 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $53.79 a barrel. Month to date, front-month contracts rose 18.5%. March Brent crude LCOH9, +0.41% rose 24 cents, or 0.4%, to end at $61.89 a barrel. Prices based on the front-month contracts were up 15% for the month.

Amazon’s (AMZN) fourth-quarter earnings smashed expectations, reporting beats on both top and bottom lines. Guidance, however, disappointed. EPS came in at $6.04 on revenue of $72.4 billion, compared to expectations of $5.65 per share on $71.61 billion in revenue.