S&P hits record high close amid optimism over tax overhaul

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 hit a record closing high on Thursday and the Dow broke above the 24,000 mark for the first time as investor bet that U.S. Republicans would pass a U.S. tax overhaul.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones Industrial Average <.DJI> rose 331.53 points, or 1.38 percent, to 24,272.21, the S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 21.51 points, or 0.82 percent, to 2,647.58 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 49.63 points, or 0.73 percent, to 6,873.97.

(By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Nick Zieminski)