US stocks extended their advance on Thursday, with the S&P 500 inching up 0.1% to another record high. The Nasdaq held near the record levels set in the previous session, while the Dow Jones added more than 110 points, moving closer to its pre-war levels.
Investor attention remained fixed on corporate earnings, amid rising optimism that a potential US–Iran agreement could soon bring the conflict to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Sector gains were led by energy, materials, and real estate, while healthcare and consumer discretionary shares underperformed.
PepsiCo rose 0.3% after posting earnings and revenue that beat expectations, and Bank of New York Mellon climbed 1.3% on strong quarterly results. By contrast, Charles Schwab dropped 3.9% after disappointing results, and Abbott Laboratories fell nearly 4% on weak guidance. Netflix slipped 0.3% ahead of its earnings report later in the day. Performance among megacap stocks was mixed.
