Money | stock market Retailers: We Have Good News Target jumps 20%, Lowe's 10% on an upbeat day By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Aug 21, 2019 3:22 PM CDT Copied Traders Edward Curran, center, and Robert Arciero, right, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as investors applauded encouraging quarterly results from major retailers, the AP reports. Target soared 20% Wednesday after releasing earnings that blew past analysts' expectations. Lowe's also jumped 10% after its results beat forecasts. Technology companies accounted for a big share of the gains. Microsoft and Apple each rose 1.1%. Traders had a muted reaction to minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting last month. Officials were divided in their decision to cut interest rates for the first time in a decade. The S&P 500 rose 23 points, or 0.8%, to 2,924. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 240, or 0.9%, to 26,202. The Nasdaq climbed 71, or 0.9%, to 8,020. Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.59% from 1.56%. Read These Next The Air Force has changed its tune on Ashli Babbitt. Open that wallet big time for a trip to Disney, if you can afford it. Minneapolis shooter had a plan—and grievances. A 'tense' clash with RFK Jr. led to CDC chief's trouble. Report an error