Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq all close at records again

Wall Street stocks bulldozed to fresh records yet again Friday, with all three major indices jumping to new highs for the second straight session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 0.7 percent higher to 19,756.85, closing in on the 20,000 threshold and adding another to a string of record closes.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.6 percent to 2,259.53, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 0.5 percent to 5,444.50.

"The enthusiasm force is still very much alive," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial.

Stocks have been on a tear since the Republican sweep in the November 8 US elections which raised hopes of pro-growth policies out of Washington.

Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare said optimism about a new era "has unleashed a rush of animal spirits that hasn't been seen in some time."

Momentum has accelerated this week, with relatively little US economic data or corporate news to rattle the positive sentiment, analysts said.

Pharmaceutical shares rallied, with Dow members Pfizer and Merck winning 2.5 percent and 1.9 percent and biotech Amgen 2.0 percent.

Large technology companies were also strong. Apple and Microsoft both gained 1.6 percent and Google parent Alphabet 1.7 percent.

Coca-Cola jumped 2.5 percent as it announced that Muhtar Kent will step down as chief executive in May to be replaced by president and chief operating officer James Quincey.

21st Century Fox dropped 2.0 percent on news it reached a preliminary agreement to acquire the remaining stake in Sky for 10.75 pounds per share. Fox said key items are still under discussion and there is no guarantee the transaction will be finalized.