S&P 500 closes at strongest Q1 since 2019

The Dow rose 47.29 points, or 0.12%, to 39,807.37, the S&P 500 gained 5.86 points, or 0.11%, to 5,254.35 and the Nasdaq lost 20.06 points, or 0.12%, to 16,379.46.

NEW YORK: The S&P 500 closed out the week with slight gains on Thursday, with the benchmark index notching its strongest first quarter in five years, as investors digested the latest batch of economic data while looking towards the next inflation reading.

Each of the three main US indices recorded solid quarterly gains, led by a climb of 10.16% for the S&P 500, aided by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks and expectations the US Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates this year.