NEW YORK – Wall Street began the fourth quarter with a huge rally Monday, sending the Dow Jones industrial average to a record close. Stocks were buoyed by a growing belief that the worst of the credit crisis has passed.

The Dow rose 191.92, or 1.38 percent, to 14,087.55, surpassing its closing record of 14,000.41 set in mid-July. The blue chip index rose as high as 14,115.51 to eclipse its previous intraday high of 14,021.95 set July 17.

While the beginning of the new quarter was an incentive for institutional investors to buy, they also seemed to be motivated by a sense that banks and other financial companies generally weathered the recent credit market upheaval. Both Citigroup and Switzerland’s UBS AG issued third-quarter profit warnings, but indicated the current period might see a return to normal earnings levels.

Meanwhile, the market was optimistic that new economic data might nudge the Federal Reserve toward another interest rate cut at its Oct. 30-31 meeting. The Institute for Supply Management said the manufacturing sector grew in September at the slowest pace in six months; the trade group said its index of manufacturing activity registered at 52.0 in September, below forecasts for a reading of at least 52.5.

“People are getting more confident there is going to be an October rate cut,” said John C. Forelli, portfolio manager for Independence Investment. “To some degree, it looks like Citi kitchen-sinked the quarter, and that from here going forward will be calmer. That’s underpinning the financials.”

Enthusiasm about acquisition activity picked up after Nokia unveiled an $8.1 billion offer to buy navigation-software maker Navteq Corp. The deal was seen as a signal that corporations are feeling comfortable in making big moves despite recent market turbulence.

Broader market indexes also rose sharply.

Bonds moved higher Monday, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.55 percent from 4.59 percent late Friday. Fixed-income investors, currently concerned about the dollar’s recent weakness, interpreted the ISM report as not necessarily portending an interest rate cut, which would further erode the U.S. currency.