Emerging Markets Lead Stocks Higher as S&P 500 Climbs to Record

Emerging-market stocks led global equities higher as faster-than-estimated Chinese export growth bolstered optimism in the global economy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and India’s benchmark gauge rose to close at record highs, while natural gas jumped on colder U.S. weather.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added 1 percent by 4:25 p.m. in New York, the biggest jump in three weeks. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent to 1,808.37 and the Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.2 percent. India’s S&P BSE Sensex Index climbed to an all-time high after the main opposition party won four state elections. The yen slid versus most of its 16 major peers, dropping to a five-year low to the euro. U.S. natural gas jumped 3 percent after arctic air from Canada created ice storms.