S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: Salesforce Stock Pops as AI Offering Impresses [Video]

Major U.S. equities indexes moved higher Wednesday, boosted by outperformance from the technology sector.

Although Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stressed that the central bank will take a cautious approach to future policy moves, optimism for another interest-rate cut at this month’s Fed meeting remained intact. Data released by payroll processor ADP showing a slowdown in private-sector hiring during November supported the case for further interest-rate reductions.

The S&P 500 advanced 0.6%, extending a streak of record closing highs that dates back to last week’s abbreviated Black Friday trading session. The Dow jumped 0.7% to close above the 45,000-point level for the first time. The Nasdaq rode strength in the tech sector to a gain of 1.3%, also notching its highest-ever close.

Shares of customer relationship management software provider Salesforce (CRM) led the S&P 500 higher on Wednesday, popping 11%. Several research analysts lifted their price targets on the stock after Salesforce boosted its full-year sales and profit guidance. Analysts noted that Agentforce, …