The Dow gained 91 points as shares of Nike and J.P. Morgan Chase outperformed. The S&P 500 added 0.35 percent. The broad index is also headed for its best first-quarter performance since 1998, rising 12.3 percent. The Nasdaq also advanced 0.35 percent.
Financials and consumer discretionary were among the best-performing sectors in the S&P 500, rising 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. PVH Corp. outperformed all stocks in the broader index, surging 14.8 percent on strong earnings. J.P. Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America all rose more than 1 percent, boosted by higher Treasury yields.
Reuters reported overnight that Chinese officials made unprecedented offers regarding force technology transfers as well as other major sticking points. The report comes as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrived in Beijing for further negotiations.
