S&P posts strongest first-quarter performance since 2019

In the US, stock exchanges closed near fresh record highs, posting their strongest first-quarter performance since 2019......The Dow Jones was up 0.12% and reached 39087, while the Nasdaq ended at 16,379. In only this quarter, the S&P 500 added 10.2% ... its best result since 2019, when it rallied 13.1%. The Dow advanced 5.6% for its strongest first-quarter performance since 2021 when it jumped 7.4%, while the Nasdaq ended the quarter with a 9.1% gain. Driving the gains this quarter and month has been Nvidia, last year's market leader, due to the artificial intelligence craze. Its stock soared 82.5% for the quarter and 14.2% in March alone.