Stocks Ended Higher amid Stimulus Talks

U. S. stocks ended higher on Thursday after Pelosi said negotiators were ‘just about there’ on stimulus agreement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 152.84 points, or 0.54%, to 28,363.66. The S&P 500 advanced 17.93 points, or 0.52%, to 3,453.49. The Nasdaq Composite gained 21.31 points, or 0.19%, to 11,506.01.

Oil futures ended higher on Thursday, as a fall in U.S. weekly jobless claims to a new pandemic low and progress toward a fresh coronavirus aid package boosted prospects for energy demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery rose 61 cents, or 1.5%, to settle at $40.64 a barrel. December Brent crude added 73 cents, or nearly 1.8%, at $42.46 a barrel.