The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (SPX) advanced to the highest level since May 2008 as Apple Inc. plans to pay a dividend and buy back $10 billion of its stock.
Apple climbed 2.7 percent to a record $601.10. Citigroup (C) Inc. advanced 1.3 percent after selling its 2.71 percent stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. U.S. Steel (X) Corp. rallied 6.4 percent to pace gains in commodity shares. United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS)increased 3.4 percent after agreeing to buy TNT Express NV. Bank of America Corp. retreated 2.8 percent, reversing an earlier advance that drove the stock above $10.
The S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent to 1,409.75 at 4 p.m. New York time, trading 9.9 percent below its October 2007 record of 1,565.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 6.51 points, or 0.1 percent, to 13,239.13. The Nasdaq Composite Index (CCMP) gained 0.8 percent to 3,078.32, the highest level since November 2000. The S&P Smallcap 600 Index (SML)increased 0.9 percent to an all-time high of 465.97. About 6.6 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges, almost in line with its three-month average.
"There's plenty of room for dividends to increase," said Paul Zemsky, the New York-based head of asset allocation for ING Investment Management. His firm oversees $160 billion. "Paying dividends is a sign of health in the companies and the economy. That plays well in terms of investors' confidence."
The S&P 500 has rallied 12 percent this year and is on pace for the best first quarter since 1998 amid better-than-estimated economic and corporate reports. It trades at about 14.6 timesreported earnings, the highest valuation level since July while still below the average since 1954 of 16.4 times earnings.
Apple, Banks
Today's rally amid Apple (AAPL)'s announcement added to last week's optimism over dividend increases by banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co. The index rose 2.4 percent between March 9 and March 16 for the biggest weekly gain this year.
"It's all about confidence," said James Paulsen, who helps oversee about $333 billion as chief investment strategist at Minneapolis-based Wells Capital Management. "You're seeing more evidence of corporate confidence rising to the extent that companies are starting to act on that. The environment for the next few years still looks very good for equity investors."
Apple gained 2.7 percent to $601.10. Investors will receive a quarterly dividend of $2.65 a share starting in the period beginning July 1, Cupertino, California-based Apple said in a statement. The buybacks will begin in the fiscal year starting Sept. 30 and will take place over three years, the company said.
The company's cash pile has swelled amid surging demand for its products. Investors had urged Apple to return some of the balance in the form a dividend.
'Extremely Confident'
"We are extremely confident in our future and see tremendous opportunities ahead," Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said in the release. He said the company plans to pay out about $45 billion over three years.
The KBW Bank Index (BKX) added 0.5 percent as 20 of its 24 stocks advanced. Bank of America fell 2.8 percent to $9.53, snapping a four-day rally.
Citigroup added 1.3 percent to $37.17. The third-largest U.S. bank sold its 2.71 percent stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to institutional investors, generating after- tax proceeds of about $349 million.
Morgan Stanley (MS) rallied 2.7 percent to $20.06. The owner of the world's largest brokerage is planning its first corporate bond sale since October after the cost to protect its bonds from default dropped by almost 50 percent in the past four months.
U.S. Steel had the biggest advance in the S&P 500, gaining 6.4 percent to $31.64. The country's largest producer of the metal by volume should benefit from a recovery in steel prices, UBS AG said in a note.
Biggest Deal
UPS added 3.4 percent to $81.11, the highest level since July 2006. The company raised its offer for TNT Express NV by 5.6 percent to 5.16 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to secure the biggest deal in the U.S. company's 105-year history.
E*Trade Financial Corp. (ETFC) advanced 1.6 percent to $11.22. The online brokerage was raised to the equivalent of buy at Wells Fargo & Co.
Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) slumped 4.5 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $2.76. Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. downgraded the company amid concern it won't sell enough iPhones to afford its "punishing" commitment with Apple Inc.
Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS) lost 1.9 percent to $68.93. Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX)'s bid to acquire the company may be delayed by a lawsuit being considered by five states. Express Scripts fell 2.1 percent to $53.22.
Homebuilders Drop
A measure of homebuilders in S&P indexes dropped 0.9 percent. The March reading of 28 in the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index of builder confidence was less than projected and followed a February figure that was lower than initially reported, figures from the Washington-based group showed today. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a rise to 30. Readings below 50 mean more respondents said conditions were poor.
KB Home (KBH) sank 6.8 percent to $11.89. PulteGroup Inc. retreated 1.4 percent to $9.16.
Daily price changes in the S&P 500 are decreasing the most in eight decades, shrinking to the smallest since 1995 when investors abandoned stocks just before the biggest rally ever.
The benchmark gauge for U.S. equities has gained or lost an average 0.46 percent a day this year, compared with 1.04 percent in 2011, the biggest reduction since 1934, during the Great Depression, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Swings are diminishing after valuationsfell 40 percent and correlation among shares weakened the most in at least three decades.
Lowest in 13 Years
At the same time, trading on the New York Stock Exchange has slumped to the lowest rate in 13 years, spurring concern about the biggest first-quarter rally since 1998. Bulls say the decline in trading and daily swings signal fear is dissipating after one of the most volatile years on record. Bears say falling volume is a warning gains will reverse should economic reports and earnings fail to match expectations.
"Low volatility is good in that it will bring investors back," Tim Hoyle, the director of research at Radnor, Pennsylvania-based Haverford Trust Co., which manages $6 billion, said in a March 13 phone interview. "Even though bullish sentiment is high, people are still fearful. I see it in my business every day, they couldn't stomach the volatility. This will restore some sense."
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