NEW YORK (Jan 25): Shares of US companies seen benefiting from US President Trump's plans to push ahead with a border wall with Mexico and his approval of key energy pipeline expansion projects surged higher on Wednesday.

The stocks were leaders among a broad-based rally in US equities that helped push the benchmark S&P 500 to a record high and the Dow Jones Industrial Average above the 20,000 mark for the first time.

Standout gainers in the group included crushed stone and concrete providers Martin Marietta Materials Inc, which hit a record high, and Vulcan Materials Co, which surged to just over a percentage point from a record high, as well.

Martin Marietta was last up nearly 3% at US$241.25, and Vulcan shares were higher by 2.5% at US$135.68.

Trump is expected to begin signing executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration on Wednesday, including a directive to build a wall along the US border with Mexico, congressional aides familiar with the plan told Reuters.

This follows his green-lighting of big energy pipeline projects on Tuesday and a directive that contractors use American steel.

That helped drive shares of specialty pipe maker Northwest Pipe Co higher by 6%. The company's stock was up another 2% early Wednesday at US$19.27 after touching the highest level in about 18 months earlier in the session.