Wall Street started the week on a positive note, with the Dow and S&P 500 finishing higher. However, the big winner of the day was the Nasdaq, which scored a 271-point gain as investors targeted beaten-down tech. Twitter (TWTR) stock's soaring price action gave the tech-heavy index a lift as well. FAANG stocks in particular climbed, even as the yield curve of the 2- and 10-year Treasury yields remains inverted. Meanwhile, U.S. factory orders fell for the first time in 10 months, losing 0.5% in February, though investors expected a 0.6% drop.

The Dow Jones Average (DJI - 34,921.88) added 103.6 points or 0.3% for the day. Salesforce.com (CRM) led the gainers with a 3.1% pop, while Travelers Companies (TRV) dropped to the bottom of the index with a 1.9% loss. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 4,582.64) rose 36.8, or 0.8% points for the day, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 14,532.55) added 271 points, or 1.9% in today's session.

Lastly, the Cboe Market Volatility Index (VIX - 18.57) lost 1.1 points or 5.4% for the day.

OIL RECLAIMS $100

After logging their worst week since April of 2020, oil prices settled higher today, with May-dated crude adding $4.01, or 4%, to settle at $103.28 a barrel -- back above the psychologically-significant $100 level. Talks of further sanctions against Russia bolstered the commodity today. 

Amid lingering inflation concerns, gold futures inched higher today as well, following a 1.6% weekly loss. June-dated gold rose $10.30, or 0.5%, to settle at $1,934 an ounce.