Trade Talks and Earnings Drive Market Optimism

United States markets experienced a significant uptick on Thursday, buoyed by the resumption of trade discussions between the US and China, as disclosed by former President Donald Trump. Additionally, Trump's positive remarks on expanding trade relations with Norway further fueled investor optimism. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also highlighted rapid progress in discussions with South Korea, adding to the positive sentiment.

Corporate Earnings Highlight Market Movements

The day was also marked by a flurry of earnings reports from major corporations, including Procter & Gamble, American Airlines, Comcast, Merck, and PepsiCo, which played a pivotal role in shaping market dynamics. Anticipation builds as Alphabet, Intel, and T-Mobile are set to release their earnings after the bell.

Market Indices Show Strong Gains

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.23%, with Salesforce leading the charge with a 5.68% increase. The S&P 500 saw a 2.03% rise, significantly influenced by ServiceNow's impressive 15.49% jump. The Nasdaq 100 closed up by 2.79%, with Microchip Technology soaring 12.38%. Meanwhile, the euro appreciated by 0.64% against the dollar, trading at 1.13860 by late afternoon ET.