NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 hit record highs on Wednesday, powered by technology stocks and a more than 20 percent jump in Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX), while gains on the Dow were capped by a sharp drop in IBM (NYSE:IBM) shares.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 66.02 points, or 0.31 percent, to 21,640.75, the S&P 500 (SPX) gained 13.22 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,473.83 and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) added 40.74 points, or 0.64 percent, to 6,385.04.
The S&P 500 tech sector (SPLRCT) set a record closing high, breaking the previous one which held since March 2000.