Markets around the world have been tearing higher in recent weeks, due in part to excitement<br />about the French election and strong earnings reports from U. S. companies.<br />That helped calm markets enough that an index used to measure the market’s fear level dropped to its lowest level since 1993.<br />NEW YORK — A turn higher in the last few minutes of trading was enough to nudge U.<br />S. indexes to more record highs Monday as fear seemed to drain out of the market.<br />Confidence has grown enough that the VIX volatility index on Monday sank to its lowest level since 1993.<br />Newell Brands jumped to the largest gain in the S&P 500 Monday after reporting stronger revenue<br />and profit for its latest quarter than analysts expected.<br />Phil Orlando said that Corporate earnings have been phenomenal, the best quarter in five years,
