US stocks hold with modest gains near record highs

Major US equity indices opened with modest gains in what would be the first full trading session after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 

Immediately after the opening bell, the broader S&P 500 Index and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index touched fresh intraday record highs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average also inching back closer to all-time highs. 

Investors' attention shifts back to developments surrounding the highly anticipated tax reform bill as the Senate gears up for a possible vote on the legislation as soon as November 30. Optimism over the US President Donald Trump's propose pro-growth fiscal stimulus plans, along with tax-cuts and infrastructure spending had been key catalyst behind the markets strong bullish run over the past year. 

The retail sector would be in focus on the back of Cyber Monday shopping, with online sales expected to set a record and follow Black Friday's record sales of $5.03 billion.