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NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks rallied Monday, with all three major indices setting new closing records, as investors focused on a rebound in oil prices while awaiting the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 59.58 points, or 0.32 percent, to 18,636.05. The S&P 500 increased 6.10 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,190.15. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 29.12 points, or 0.56 percent, to 5,262.02.
Oil prices kept rising Monday, with both U.S. oil and Brent crude jumping nearly 3 percent, as speculation intensified about potential producer action to support prices in an oversupplied market.
On the economic front, U.S. builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes in August rose 2 points to 60 from a downwardly revised reading of 58 in July on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.
Investors were also awaiting the minutes of the Fed's July policy meeting scheduled for release Wednesday, for more indications on the timing of the next interest rate hike.
Overseas, Chinese stocks surged Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index going up 2.44 percent to close at 3,125.2 points.
Tokyo shares inched down with market sentiment dampened by the rising yen amid relatively low turnover as many investors were out for summer holidays.
European equities closed mixed Monday amid oil rebound. German benchmark DAX index at Frankfurt Stock Exchange inched up 0.24 percent, while French benchmark index CAC 40 edged down 0.05 percent.
