U.S. stocks closed higher Monday, with the Nasdaq Composite rising 2.26% to 27,122.09 and reaching a record high. The S&P 500 gained 1.49% to 7,764.70, while the Dow Jones added about 366 points to close at 52,048.83. Technology shares led the advance, with Intel up 12%, Advanced Micro Devices gaining about 10% and Meta Platforms surging 11% after positive early responses to its Muse AI agent. The CNN Business Fear & Greed Index (a gauge of investor sentiment) improved to 34 from 30 but remained in the Fear zone. Crude oil recorded a fourth consecutive decline, helping ease pressure on Treasury yields. Weekly performance was mixed: the Dow fell 1.7%, the S&P 500 slipped about 0.1% and the Nasdaq gained 0.7%. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index fell to -0.04 in August from a revised +0.08 in July. Communication services, information technology and consumer discretionary stocks posted the strongest sector gains, while energy and utilities declined. Investors are awaiting earnings from AutoZone, Thor Industries and KB Home. The index uses seven equally weighted indicators and ranges from 0, representing maximum fear, to 100, representing maximum greed.