S&P 500 hits 5,000 for first time; Microsoft topples Apple as world's largest company

The S&P 500 has never been higher, crossing the 5,000 level for the first time ever as improving corporate earnings and better-than-expected economic data fuel investor optimism.  That optimism got an extra push Friday after revised data showed consumer inflation moderated at the end of last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ticker Security Last Change Change % SP500 S&P 500 5023.93 +26.02 +0.52% However, strategists caution the upward move is heavily tied to just a handful of companies. " ...