The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 21,000 points for the first time, with the blue-chip index reaching the milestone a scant five weeks after breaching the 20,000 mark. Stocks shot out of the gate on Wednesday, led by big gains in banks as investors expected interest rates to rise. Financial markets also seemed to take comfort in President Trump’s speech last night to a joint session of Congress. The Dow jumped 222 points, or 1 percent, to 21,034, a new record, shortly after trade opened. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 20 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,384. The Nasdaq composite increased 46 points, or 0.8 ... (full story)