- Futures linked to the S&P 500 edged higher early Thursday after the index
touched new highs, buoyed by hopes that the U.S. and Iran were closing in on an
agreement to end the war.
- Stocks moved higher and oil prices cooled after Axios reported, citing
sources, that the U.S. and Iran are nearing a deal to end the war.
- An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday that Iran was
evaluating a U.S. proposal for a resolution.
- New unemployment benefit filings totaled a seasonally adjusted 200,000 for the
week ended May 2, up 10,000 from the prior week’s revised level but below the
206,000 consensus estimate from Dow Jones
- McDonald’s — The fast-food chain posted a beat on both the top and bottom
line, sending shares nearly 3.2% higher. Adjusted earnings came in at $2.83 per
share
- U.S.-based employers announced 83,387 job cuts in April, up 38% from March but
down 21% from a year earlier, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
- Japan stocks rose more than 5% on Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei 225
hitting 62,000 for the first time as Asia-Pacific markets rallied despite
renewed tensions in the Middle East.
