Stocks Ended Higher, Dow above 26,000

U.S. stocks ended higher on Monday amid hopes that efforts to reopen the economy would continue to make progress. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 153.50 points, or 0.59%, to 26,024.96. The S&P 500 rose 20.12 points, or 0.65%, to 3,117.86. The Nasdaq Composite gained 110.35 points, or 1.11%, to 10,056.47.

Oil prices finished higher Monday, as the improvement in the longer-term outlook prompted one major investment bank to raise its price targets for the commodity. West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery added 71 cents, or 1.8%, to settle at $40.46 a barrel. Brent oil for August delivery rose 89 cents, or 2.1%, at $43.08 a barrel.