Stocks slip from record highs | Boeing 737 Max flies once again | Bigger stimulus checks ahead?

Congress appears to be inching closer to a deal on new fiscal stimulus and another coronavirus stimulus package, and investor optimism helped lift two of the three major indexes to all-time highs.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE TUE, DEC 29, 2020 EVENING BRIEF AS OF TUE, DEC 29, 2020 • 04:18 ET DJIA 30335.67 -0.22% -68.30 S&P 500 3727.04 -0.22% -8.32 NASDAQ 12850.22 -0.38% -49.20   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 134.87 -1.82 -1.33% INTC 49.39 +2.32 +4.93% MSFT 224.15 -0.81 -0.36% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 134.87 -1.82 -1.33% INTC 49.39 +2.32 +4.93% GE 10.56 -0.08 -0.75% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 134.87 -1.82 -1.33% INTC 49.39 +2.32 +4.93% AMD 90.62 -0.98 -1.07%   EDITOR'S NOTE Tuesday marked a momentous occasion for Boeing as the company's beleaguered 737 Max jet took to the U.S. skies with passengers for the first time in nearly two years.   American Airlines Flight 718 traveled from Miami to New York City. Boeing shares rose as much as 2.6% before closing slightly lower.   The 737 Max had been grounded worldwide since March 2019 after two deadly crashes in which pilots battled an automated flight-control system that was erroneously activated.   Boeing's stock has taken a steep hit in that time, falling more than 50%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 16% over the same period.   "I think what has happened with the Max, has heightened the intensity for which we all have to be mindful of safety and security," American's president, Robert Isom, told reporters ahead of the flight. "From a safety perspective I can tell you at American we don't take delivery of a plane without putting it through its paces."   Catch The News with Shepard Smith at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC. The nightly newscast provides deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day's most important stories. Fred Imbert | CNBC Markets Reporter @foimbert TOP NEWS  Stocks close lower after hitting record highs, Dow and S&P 500 snap 3-day winning streak McConnell blocks Schumer's bid to unanimously pass $2,000 stimulus checks If stimulus checks are raised to $2,000, here's how that would work Boeing 737 Max passenger flights resume in U.S. after nearly two-year ban Covid live updates: Kamala Harris gets vaccinated; EU to buy another 100 million Pfizer vaccine doses American Airlines expects to fly less than half of 2019 schedule through February as virus spreads U.S. home prices rise at fastest pace in more than 6 years Intel shares rise after Third Point urges chipmaker to explore strategic alternatives as market share deteriorates GOP pollster says Trump's demand for $2,000 stimulus checks is a nightmare for Republicans in Georgia Options trader bets that silver can lead the resource trade higher into 2021   TOP VIDEO Sports radio legend Mike Francesa asks 'Halftime' traders about stay-at-home trades   CNBC PRO Options market shows investor jitters as the stock market slips from record highs   SPECIAL REPORTS Here's how companies factor in environmental, social and corporate governance concerns How college students are turning hobbies into side hustles — and extra cash   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