S&P 500 and Dow reach record highs as tech stocks drive gains

Wall Street closed higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow reaching new record highs. The Dow surpassed 43,000 points for the first time, driven by strong gains in technology and semiconductor stocks ahead of upcoming corporate earnings reports. Trading volume was lower than average due to a federal holiday, with 9.55 billion shares changing hands. The S&P 500 rose 0.77% to 5,859.85 points, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.87% to 18,502.69 points. Investors are anticipating earnings reports from major companies this week, including Bank of America and Johnson & Johnson. Economic data, particularly September retail sales figures, will also be closely watched for insights into consumer spending and the overall health of the U.S. economy.