Monday was yet another up-day for the S&P 500 Index as it reached 1704.95, narrowly missing its all-time high of 1709.67 set in August, but the index closed at 1697.60, up +0.57%. The Dow was also up, +0.77%, but the Nasdaq fell -0.12%

The day’s strength was chiefly attributed to a combination of Larry Summers stepping aside as the likely nominee for the new Fed chief and the signing of the agreement between Russia and the US on a method to require Syria to turn over its chemical weapons to the international control. Summers had been under fierce opposition even from Democrats, after being favored by President Obama.