U.S. stocks rise again as the S&P 500 sets a record. Earnings optimism and strong economic data drive the rally.

Nvidia's gain helped keep the Nasdaq Composite above water today, with the tech-heavy index climbing 0.2% to 20,677 – a new all-time closing high. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1% to 44,023 and the S&P 500 fell 0.4% to 6,243 due in part to weakness in financial stocks.