Nasdaq, S&P hit fresh highs on trade deal hopes, Amazon boost

The Nasdaq breached the 9,000-point mark for the first time and the S&P 500 hit a fresh record high on Thursday, boosted by optimism over U.S.-China trade relations and gains in Amazon.com after a report signaled robust online holiday sales. Shares of the retail giant (O:AMZN) rose 3.2% after Mastercard's report showed U.S. shoppers spent more online during the holiday shopping season, with e-commerce sales hitting a record high. Amazon lifted the consumer discretionary index (SPLRCD) by 0.8%, the most among the 11 major S&P sectors. "The important part is that the online sales were much stronger than expected. The brick-and-mortar were less than expected, so the online sales, and principally Amazon, saved the day," said John Conlon, director, equity strategy at People's United Advisors.