While stocks steadily pulled back from this morning's surge, all three major benchmarks still finished the day comfortably higher. The Dow and Nasdaq tacked on triple digits for the second-straight day, while the S&P 500 reclaimed 4,000. November's cooler-than-expected consumer price index (CPI) reading spearheaded the positive sentiment, though investors are now looking ahead to tomorrow's rate-hike decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Elsewhere, Wall Street's "fear gauge," the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), logged its largest percentage drop since Nov. 10. 

Gold Prices Hit Highest Levels Since June

Oil prices rose for the second day as the oil market prepares for a major cold front. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for January delivery added $2.22, or 3%, to settle at $75.39 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold prices surged after today's CPI data. February-dated gold rose $33.20, or nearly 1.9%, to settle at $1,825.50 per ounce -- the highest finish for a front-month contract since late June.  

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