Dow jumps 227 points as strong economic data outweighs Biden tax-hike worry

Dow jumps 227 points as strong economic data outweighs Biden tax-hike worry

US stocks closed higher on the last trading day of the week as strong economic data outweighed investors' fears of the capital gains tax hike proposed by President Joe Biden that would nearly double the tax rate for wealthy Americans.

All three major stock indexes rose Friday propelled by the two popular gauges of business activity that swung even higher in preliminary April readings, according to analytics firm IHS Markit.

The services activity index leaped to 63.1 from 60.4 - the fastest expansion since data collection began in 2009. The firm's manufacturing index rose to 60.6 from 59.1, which is also a record. Markit's composite index soared to an all-time high of 62.2 from 59.7. Readings above 50 indicate sector growth, while those below 50 signal contraction.

Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at LPL Financial, said he was surprised by the market's reaction to Biden's proposal. He said investors should have expected it when Biden won.

"Calmer heads are prevailing today with the broad rally at least," he said in a note. "On the surface, you'd think higher taxes wouldn't be a good thing, but that's actually not reality. In fact, the past two times we had an increase in the capital gains tax