stocks ended higher thursday with the sp 500 and nasdaq composite closing at records as investors shook off data showing us economic growth slowed sharply in the third quarter a strong run of corporate earnings continued the dow jones industrial average djia rose around 239 points or 07 to finish near 35729 according to preliminary figures the sp 500 spx advanced around 45 points or 1 to end near 4596 topping its previous record close set on tuesday the nasdaq composite comp ended near 15448 surging 213 points or 14 to exceed the record close set on sept 7 the us economy grew at an annualized rate of 2 in third quarter according to an initial reading of gross domestic product for the period that marked the slowest growth rate since the 2020 recession and was far weaker than expectations of 28 slowing from 67 in the second quarter