S&P 500 closes at a record | Shortest bear market ever | Walmart boosted by stimulus money

The S&P 500 rose to an all-time high on Tuesday, capping off its incredible recovery from the coronavirus-induced sell-off that knocked it off its previous record back in February.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE TUE, AUG 18, 2020 EVENING BRIEF AS OF TUE, AUG 18, 2020 • 04:52 ET DJIA 27778.07 -0.24% -66.84 S&P 500 3389.78 +0.23% +7.79 NASDAQ 11210.84 +0.73% +81.12   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG WMT 134.71 -0.89 -0.66% AAPL 462.25 +3.82 +0.83% CSCO 41.98 -0.11 -0.26% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG BAC 25.53 -0.37 -1.43% KSS 20.01 -3.44 -14.67% GE 6.44 -0.03 -0.46% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAL 12.60 -0.02 -0.16% AMD 81.66 -0.76 -0.92% AAPL 462.25 +3.82 +0.83%   EDITOR'S NOTE Finally.   After multiple attempts over the past week, the S&P 500 broke above its February record and completed its recovery from the coronavirus sell-off on Tuesday.   The broader market index at one point fell more than 30% from its previous record high set Feb. 19. But since hitting a 52-low March 23, the S&P 500 has ripped more than 50% higher. This new record also confirmed we're in a new bull market. The major tech stocks — Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google-parent Alphabet — have been the most significant contributors to gains during the recovery.   More recently, a slew of better-than-economic data reports have also lifted market sentiment.   "Recent data make it very difficult to argue with a straight face that the market has diverged from the economy," Michael Darda, chief economist and market strategist at MKM Partners, said in a note. "We would still be inclined to buy into weakness if and when it develops."   Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. Fred Imbert | CNBC Markets Reporter @foimbert TOP NEWS  S&P 500 rises to a record close, fully wiping out its coronavirus losses Here's a list of stock bull markets through time and how this new one stacks up S&P 500 makes an incredible comeback to a record — These are the biggest winners from the bottom Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says Democrats are unwilling to strike a 'reasonable' relief deal USPS chief Louis DeJoy says he is suspending some changes to the post office until after the 2020 election Coronavirus pandemic turbocharges online sales, which were up more than 31% in just three months Walmart says consumer spending dropped as stimulus checks ran out Wall Street pushes for GM to spin off its electric vehicle business The S&P 500 just hit a new record and analysts say these stocks will lead the market's next leg higher Latest updates on the coronavirus   TOP VIDEO Market is justified in making a new high—Josh Brown breaks down why   CNBC PRO Stanley Druckenmiller reveals bets on companies hit hard by the pandemic — here are the highlights   SPECIAL REPORTS A Dow buy signal says Warren Buffett's gold stake came too late for the precious metal How Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk spends his billions   Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS