US STOCKS-Wall Street ends at record highs as investors eye fiscal stimulus

* Weekly jobless claims at 885,000 vs 862,000 in prior week
* S&P 500 tech, consumer discretionary sectors hit intraday
record
highs
* Alphabet dips after states file antitrust complaint
*

(Updates with close of trading)
By Noel Randewich and Karen Pierog
Dec 17 (Reuters) - Wall Street's three main indexes closed
at record highs on Thursday as investors grew more optimistic
about a coronavirus stimulus bill, helping markets look past
signs of economic strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The S&P 500 technology .SPLRCT and consumer discretionary
.SPLRCD indexes hit intraday record highs.
A surge in technology outsourcing firm Accenture ACN.N
gave the S&P 500 a major lift.
Top Republicans and Democrats grew closer to agreeing on a
fresh round of aid in response to a crisis that has killed
nearly 309,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.
Many investors saw the passing of new measures to support
the economy as imminent after data showed the number of
Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits
unexpectedly rose last week. That followed a reading on Wednesday that showed U.S. retail
sales falling more than expected in November, as consumer
spending remained constrained. "It's all about stimulus today and expectations of a pathway
to the deal," said Ryan Giannotto, director of research at
GraniteShares in New York City.
Developments on the vaccine front were also lifting the
market, with Moderna Inc MRNA.O awaiting U.S. approval for
deploying what would be the nation's second COVID-19 vaccine.
The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq and
Russell 2000 index .RUT of smaller companies all closed at
their highest levels ever.
The S&P 500 has climbed about 15% in 2020, despite the
economic destruction caused by the coronavirus.
Unofficially, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose
0.49% to end at 30,301.79 points, while the S&P 500 .SPX
gained 0.57% to 3,722.43.
The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC climbed 0.84% to 12,764.
"In the very short term, I think we are a little bit over
bought here," said Randy Frederick, vice president of trading
and derivatives at Charles Schwab.
He noted that best-performing sectors like technology were
most at risk of a pull back, while some of the "more unloved
sectors" like financials and energy were getting fresh attention
as investors looked for bargains.
Google-parent Alphabet GOOGL.O dipped after a group of 38
U.S. states and territories filed an antitrust complaint
accusing Google of trying to extend its search monopoly to
dominate smart speakers, televisions and cars. Accenture jumped after it raised its annual sales forecast
and beat quarterly revenue estimates as an extended
work-from-home period boosted its digital, cloud and security
services. General Mills Inc GIS.N rose after it beat second-quarter
profit estimates, boosted by sales of its pet foods and baking
products.