The Dow Jones Index crosses the 34,000 point mark for the first time

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose, closing its highest level of 34,000 points for the first time, and the S&P Index hit a new record high with the technology sector rising amid declining US Treasury yields.

The data showed that US retail sales rose strongly during the month of March. The data also showed that US jobless claims fell more than expected to 576,000 applications last week, its lowest level in a year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 305.16 points, or 0.9% to 34,036.05 points, and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose by 45.79 points, or 1.11% to 4,170.45 points, and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 180.92 points, or 1.31%, to 14038.76 points.