S&P 500 scores record high on retail sales cheer; Dow rises 270 points

The Nasdaq Composite added 196.73 points, or 1.26%, at 15,850.10

The S&P 500 index hit a record high on Monday, as strong US retail sales underscored economic strength and eased worries from Omicron-driven flight cancellations that hit travel stocks.

US holiday season retail sales rose 8.5% from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, powered by an ecommerce boom, according to a Mastercard Inc report.

The S&P 500 retailing index gained 0.18%.

Travel-related stocks, typically sensitive to coronavirus news, declined as U.S. airlines canceled about 800 more flights on Monday after nixing thousands during the Christmas weekend, as Omicron cases soared.

The S&P 1500 airlines index shed 0.81%. Cruise operators Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean