-- US equity indexes closed higher on Thursday in a broad-based rally led by technology, communication services, and industrials despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
* US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported.
* Iran's new supreme leader gave a statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.
* The US core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose to 3.2% year-on-year in March from 3%, meeting expectations.
* June West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.82 to settle at $105.06 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $3.94 at $114.09.
* Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares were up roughly 14%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday.
* Meta Platforms (META) was down nearly 8% after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, despite a Q1 earnings and revenue beat.