US stocks extend gains, Dow Jones ends above 34,000 for first time ever

The main US stock indices rose on Thursday, after the release of upbeat economic data and following the US Treasury bond yields drop, as Dow Jones closed above 34,000 points for the first time ever.

The data showed that the US retail sales rose 9.8% during March, beating forecasts of 5.8%, and the core reading showed a rise by 8.4% in March, better than forecasts of 5.1%.

The US unemployment claims fell to 576K during the past week, better than forecasts of 703K. 

Otherwise, the 10-year US Treasury bonds yield fell below 1.6% today.

To the oil market, WTI crude May futures rose 0.5% or 31 cents, and closed at $63.46 a barrel, after hitting a high of $63.4 and a low of $62.5.

Brent June futures rose 0.5% or 36 cents, and closed at $66.94 a barrel, after hitting a high of $66.9 and a low of $65.9.

As for stocks, Dow Jones rose 0.9% or 305 points, and closed at 34,035, with a day high of 34,068, and a low of 33,788.

Nasdaq rose 1.3% or 181 points to 14,038, with a high of 14,049 and a low of 13,970 points.

S&P 500 rose 1.1% or 45 points to 4,170, after hitting a high of 4,173 and a low of 4,139.