US stocks closed at record levels on Thursday, boosted by hope of Washington coming through on additional fiscal aid before the end of 2020. The S&P 500 gained +0.6%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced +0.8%. The Dow Jones climbed 147 points or +0.5%. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit intraday and closing records, while the Dow posted its highest-ever closing level. Real estate, materials and health care were the best-performing sectors in the S&P 500, rising more than 1% each. Johnson & Johnson rose 2.6% to lead the Dow higher.