Stocks Ended at Record Highs as Coronavirus Fears Eased

U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday, sending all three benchmark indexes to record closes, as coronavirus fears eased. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 275.08 points, or 0.94%, to 29,551.42. The S&P 500 added 21.70 points, or 0.65%, to 3,379.45. The Nasdaq Composite gained 87.02 points, or 0.90%, to 9,725.96.

Oil futures finished higher on Wednesday, as worries eased over coronavirus disease’s hit to crude demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery rose $1.23, or about 2.5%, to settle at $51.17 a barrel. April Brent added $1.78, or 3.3%, to $55.79 a barrel.