Dow Closes Above 18,000 For The First Time Since July As Earnings Bolster Confidence

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday closed above the key 18,000 mark for the first time since July as better-than-expected corporate earnings offset the disappointment over the failure of oil producers to limit crude output during a meeting in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend. However, companies like Hasbro Inc. and PepsiCo Inc. , which reported early Monday, turned in robust quarterly earnings, helping to soothe investors' sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 106 points, or 0.6%, to end at 18,004, while the S&P 500 rose 13 points, or 0.7%, to close at 2,094. The Nasdaq advanced 21 points, or 0.4%, to finish at 4,960.