Dow closes, hits 28K for the first time ever

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit and closed above 28,000 for the first time ever on Friday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also closed at new records.

Why it matters: The 28,000 level has no relevance in and of itself, but the markets' new highs in recent weeks is a sign of investors' renewed confidence in the state of the U.S. economy.

• The S&P 500 is on a six-week winning streak — the longest stretch of gains in two years, per CNBC — though the index's daily gains have been tepid.

Go deeper: The current bull market is actually below average