U.S. stocks climbed to record levels on Thursday after key companies reported strong earnings and fresh economic data pointed to a rebound in consumer spending and the jobs market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 300 points to hit an all-time high. The S&P 500 gained 0.9%, also reaching an intraday record. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.1%.Retail sales surged 9.8% in March as additional stimulus sent consumer spending soaring, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. That number topped the Dow Jones estimate of a 6.1% gain.A separate report on Thursday showed that first-time filings for unemployment insurance dropped to the lowest level since …
