The U.S. stock market closed at record highs on December 4, 2024, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 45,000 for the first time, driven by a tech rally and positive comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to close near 6,100, and the Nasdaq Composite outperformed, gaining 1.3%. Powell's remarks about the U.S. economy being in a 'remarkably good' state boosted investor confidence, leading to the market's late surge. This milestone comes as the market has seen 56 record highs in 2024, marking one of the strongest performances in recent history.