US stocks climbed on Thursday as the US confirmed a highly anticipated meeting with China next week and investors parsed through a fresh batch of quarterly results after Tesla (TSLA) and IBM (IBM) earnings fell short.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the gains, rising 0.9%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) drifted 0.3% higher.
President Trump said a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi is scheduled for next Thursday, offering reassurance to markets unsettled by rising tensions.
Meanwhile, oil futures spiked more than 5% after the US placed sanctions on Russia’s giant producers, piling pressure on President Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Brent crude (BZ=F) rose to settle above $65 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) settled above $61.
Elsewhere, Tesla shares pared earlier losses to gain 2% after the EV maker posted mixed third quarter results on Wednesday, kicking off the “Magnificent Seven” earnings cycle. IBM stock dropped around 1%, as stronger-than-expected profits were offset by in-line software revenue that nevertheless disappointed investors.
After reporting quarterly results before the open, American Airlines (AAL) stock jumped as the carrier’s fourth quarter earnings guidance topped expectations. Shares in T-Mobile (TMUS) dipped as the telecom company’s customer base grew more than expected.
Results from struggling chipmaker Intel (INTC) take center stage after the bell.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been receiving pitches for the US to take stakes in several quantum computing companies, the Wall Street Journal reported — the latest move in its push to become a shareholder in critical sectors. Shares of IonQ (IONQ), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), and other targeted companies surged on the news.
On Friday, the delayed release of the September Consumer Price Index report will provide investors with a rare look at the inflation picture. Government data has come to a virtual standstill amid the ongoing government shutdown.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 21 updates