From The Wall Street Journal:

Despite a tumultuous year, with the pandemic and economic uncertainty, U.S. stocks have managed to end near record highs, surprising many analysts who had predicted a bearish end to 2020. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both closed at record highs on Thursday, while the Dow ended just shy of its own record. This strong finish has been attributed to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, stimulus measures, and positive economic data. The S&P 500 gained 16.3% in 2020, the Nasdaq rose 43.6%, and the Dow gained 7.3% for the year.



Read more: The Blockbuster Year in Stocks No One Saw Coming