The Dow crossed 44,0000 for the first time ever as stocks were on track for their best week in a year on optimism that President-elect Donald Trump's policies will boost the economy.

The blue-chip Dow closed up 259.65 points, or 0.59%, to a record high 43,988.99, and the broad Standard & Poor's 500 index finished up 22.44 points, or 0.38%, to an all-time high of 5,995.54. The S&P 500 and Dow are both about 4.