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Closing bell: Stocks surge; Dow marks first time above 21,000 points FILE - This Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, file photo shows the Wall Street entrance of the New York Stock Exchange. Global stocks fell Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, amid worries about the potential impact of U.S. trade policies and as investors became more cautious about the market's recent rally. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Wednesday Mar 1, 2017 at 1:24 PM Mar 1, 2017 at 2:12 PM The Associated Press Banks and other financial companies led U.S. stocks sharply higher, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average above 21,000 points for the first time.   Wednesday's gain was the biggest for the blue-chip index so far this year.   Energy companies also rose. Bank of America rose 3.8 percent and ConocoPhillips rose 3.1 percent.   The rally came a day after President Donald Trump reaffirmed plans to cut taxes and push for other business-friendly policies.   Bond prices fell and yields rose after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said the case for raising interest rates had gotten stronger.   The Dow jumped 303 points, or 1.5 percent, to 21,115.   The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 32 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,395. The Nasdaq composite increased 78 points, or 1.4 percent, to 5,904.