-- US equity indexes closed higher on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, removing a hurdle to further US-Iran peace talks.
* President Donald Trump said Thursday on Truth Social that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting 5 pm ET.
* US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 207,000 in the week ended April 11 from a downwardly revised 218,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to 213,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.
* US industrial production fell by 0.5% in March, compared with expectations for a 0.1% increase in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.
* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.21 to settle at $93.50 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $3.29 at $98.20.
* J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) shares were up about 6.3% after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 results.
* Charles Schwab (SCHW) shares were down nearly 7.6%, the steepest decliner in the S&P 500, after the company reported Q1 net revenue below analysts' expectations.