Global Stocks Mostly Rise With US Indices At Records

European and US stocks mostly climbed Thursday, boosted by US stimulus hopes, vaccine rollouts and upbeat news from Italy amid a calmer trading environment after last week's volatility.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished at all-time highs, extending a strong rally this week with the ebbing of last week's buying frenzy of GameStop and other equities. Investors are increasingly confident that volatility in those equities won't dent confidence in the broader stock market.

Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities, said investors have also been cheered by the drop in new US coronavirus cases and an increase in vaccination rates.

"We clearly are seeing fewer cases and fewer hospitalizations," Hogan said.

Hogan also cited improving economic data, but cautioned that much stronger data -- including in Friday's jobs report -- could bolster critics of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan.

Earlier, European markets were also broadly higher.

Milan rose by 1.6 percent after former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi got to work on trying to form a new Italian government to lift his country out of coronavirus-induced turmoil.

"Draghi has been asked to form a government of national unity in Italy. He's a highly skilled operator, a consummate politician and we know he'll do 'whatever it takes' to steer Italy out of its worst economic and health crisis since the war," said Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson.

However, London stocks were essentially unchanged after the Bank of England held its key interest rate at a record-low 0.1 percent and stimulus levels steady, causing the pound to rise.

The BoE also cut its 2021 gross domestic product growth forecast to 5.0 percent from 7.25 percent although Britain has moved faster than most countries in its vaccination campaign.

The central bank also hinted at the possibility of negative interest rates later this year.

Among individual companies, Apple jumped 2.6 percent following reports it is close to a deal on producing its own autonomous vehicles in cooperation with South Korean giant Hyundai. Neither company commented on the reports.

Disney rose 2.2 percent after a bipartisan group California state lawmakers released legislation that would allow the state's theme park to reopen more quickly than under the current state plan.

Disney has criticized the coronavirus plan by Governor Gavin Newsom as overly restrictive.