At least, that was the case as of Tuesday’s close, when the U.S. benchmark saw its year-to-date advance top 20% for the first time since the start of 2024, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The achievement happened to coincide with the index’s 41st record close of the year.

Indexes rallied Thursday amid a surprise fall in jobless claims and promises from China to further invigorate the country's sluggish economy.

Wall Street is trading higher before the opening bell, following global markets that surged on reports that China plans to spend billions of dollars to help rebuild the capital of state-run banks and