Stock surge continues into September

Stock markets on Wednesday extended a streak that saw the best August in decades into September.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 455 points, or 1.6 percent, and the S&P 500 gained 54 points, or 1.5 percent.

The NASDAQ composite, which relies heavily on technology stocks, closed up 116 points, or 1 percent.

Markets have risen at an extraordinary rate from March lows on aggressive intervention from the Federal Reserve and stimulus action from the federal government.

Thus far, however, the markets have shown little concern for a deadlock between congressional Democrats, Republicans and the White House over renewing key stimulus benefits, such as expanded unemployment benefits that expired in July.

Updated at 4:37 p.m.