US close: Post-Brexit recovery continues for third session

US stocks closed higher on Thursday - the final day of the quarter - as the post-Brexit recovery completed its third straight day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average notched up gains of 1.33% to 17,929.99, with General Electric leading and Visa the only loser.

A rise of 1.36% to 2,098.86 was recorded on the S&P 500, while the Nasdaq closed up 1.33% at 4,842.67.

Energy managed a leap of 10% for the quarter as the best-performing sector, with the only negative sectors being information technology and consumer discretionary.

During the session the Dow managed to reach a point where it had recovered 80% of its post-Brexit losses.

It lost more than 870 points in the two sessions following the UK’s shock vote to leave the European Union last week.

"I think it's a continuation of trying to sort out what Brexit means and what's important to investors," said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank.

"Whether they decide it means nothing. We’re going to have to wait and see."

St Louis Federal Reserve president James Bullard spoke in London during the day, and repeated the new monetary policy framework which now includes a single rate hike for the foreseeable future.

On the data front, weekly jobless claims were posted at 268,000 - slightly above the anticipated 267,000.

The Chicago PMI reading for June was well above May’s 49.3 reading at 56.8.

Just two banks failed the Federal Reserve’s stress test, it was announced, as the central bank approved the capital plans for 31 others.

Deutsche Bank and Banco Santander were the miss the mark.

Among the leaders in consumer staples was confectioner Hershey, which was propelled 16.8% by talks of a possible takeover bid from Cadbury owner Mondelez.

The board of Hershey unanimously rejected the Mondelez offer late during the session, however.

On the Nasdaq, the tech giants dominated both ends for the quarter, with Amazon having the most positive impact and Apple dragging the chain.

Film studio Lions Gate made a major acquisition announcement, saying it will buy Starz for $4.4bn cash and stock.

S&P 500 - Risers
Hershey Foods Corp. (HSY) $117.79 +21.26%
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) $59.50 +5.99%
Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) $66.53 +5.91%
Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) $45.48 +5.84%
United States Steel Corp. (X) $16.86 +5.57%
Kellogg Co. (K) $81.65 +5.26%
General Mills Inc. (GIS) $71.32 +5.10%
Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) $8.94 +5.05%
Waters Corp. (WAT) $140.65 +4.46%
Textron Inc. (TXT) $36.56 +4.37%

S&P 500 - Fallers
Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) $25.13 -4.45%
Mastercard Inc. (MA) $88.06 -4.42%
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) $91.18 -4.19%
Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) $63.34 -3.97%
Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) $12.58 -3.45%
Visa Inc. (V) $74.17 -3.35%
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) $4.28 -3.17%
Endo International Plc (ENDP) $15.59 -2.13%
Humana Inc. (HUM) $179.88 -2.05%
Range Resources Corp. (RRC) $43.14 -1.93%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
General Electric Co. (GE) $31.48 +3.04%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $32.80 +2.72%
Boeing Co. (BA) $129.87 +2.27%
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $151.78 +2.24%
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $75.81 +2.13%
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $148.58 +2.12%
3M Co. (MMM) $175.12 +2.10%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $102.55 +2.07%
Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $45.33 +2.00%
Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $119.04 +1.91%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
Visa Inc. (V) $74.17 -3.35%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) $59.50 +5.99%
Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) $45.48 +5.84%
Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $13.76 +4.32%
Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) $39.63 +4.23%
JD.com, Inc. (JD) $21.23 +4.12%
Western Digital Corp. (WDC) $47.26 +3.64%
Discovery Communications Inc. Class A (DISCA) $25.23 +3.49%
Discovery Communications Inc. Class C (DISCK) $23.85 +3.34%
Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) $91.87 +3.07%
Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) $88.48 +2.76%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) $91.18 -4.19%
Endo International Plc (ENDP) $15.59 -2.13%
Liberty Global plc Series C (LBTYK) $28.65 -1.85%
Liberty Global plc Series A (LBTYA) $29.06 -1.76%
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $271.10 -0.94%
Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) $77.80 -0.73%
Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $80.09 -0.67%
T-Mobile Us, Inc. (TMUS) $43.27 -0.41%
Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $94.24 -0.19%
Celgene Corp. (CELG) $98.63 -0.18%