US stocks end higher as investors digest earnings reports

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks ended higher Thursday as investors weighed a number of earnings reports and jobless claims data.

Shares of electric car manufacturer Tesla and Danaher Corporation jumped on better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.

US initial jobless claims meanwhile rose by 7,000 to 251,000 in the week ended July 16, marking the highest reading since last November, according to the Labor Department.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 162.06 points, or 0.51%, to 32,036.90.

The S&P 500 increased by 39.05 points, or 0.99%, to 3,998.95.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq was up by 161.96 points, or 1.36%, to 12,059.61.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 3.22 to 23.11.

The 10-year US Treasury yield increased 5.07% to 2.882%.

The dollar index was down 0.47% to 106.44.

Precious metals went up, with gold rising 1.02% to $1,717.57 an ounce and silver increasing 0.61% to $18.78.

Global benchmark Brent crude was flat at $104.01 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $96.58.