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S&P 500, Nasdaq Scale New Peaks Amid Strong Gains in Technology

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US equity indexes rose after midday Friday, with technology and consumer discretionary helping push the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to record highs, while crude oil futures slumped.

The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2% to 25,190.1, with the S&P 500 up 0.7% to 7,257.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaned slightly higher to 49,665.2.

Energy was the standout decliner after Iran offered a revised peace plan.

Tehran delivered a new proposal to the US while President Donald Trump vowed to maintain a naval blockade, Bloomberg reported Friday. Tehran relayed its latest position to Washington via Pakistan, which mediated a first round of direct negotiations last month, Bloomberg reported, citing Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures dropped 3.5% to $101.36, and Brent crude futures fell 2.3% to $107.91.

In company news, Apple (AAPL) jumped 4.6%, the Dow's top gainer, after the iPhone manufacturer overnight reported a year-over-year surge in fiscal Q2 earnings and revenue. Apple's board also raised its quarterly dividend and approved an additional share buyback program of up to $100 billion.

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