Trading was buoyed by data showing that growth of U.S. holiday sales was at six-year high. Retail sales gained 5.1% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 compared with a year ago, Mastercard SpendingPulse reported. It tracked spending online and in stores across all payment types, including cash and check. All in all, shoppers spent more than $850 billion this year, it added.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 27, 2018 09:34 UTC