US Market Indices Rise Amid Lackluster Trading

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indexes ended slightly higher on muted trading, with The Walt Disney Company leading gains on the Dow ahead of its shareholder meeting. Estée Lauder surged 6.2% on an analyst upgrade, while Discover Financial Services rose 2.4% after its CEO's departure announcement. Homebuilders Pultegroup and Lennar advanced on data suggesting an improving housing market, while Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reversed yesterday's gains. Tesla declined as investors awaited its delivery figures, and Nasdaq's Walgreens Boots Alliance climbed 3.2% despite a large impairment charge.

Major Market Indices Exhibit Modest Gains Amid Subdued Trading

NEW YORK, [Date] - U.S. equity indexes edged higher in a lackluster trading session on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the S&P 500 Index (SPX) posting modest gains. The Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX), however, closed flat, reflecting the subdued market sentiment.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

The DJIA rose by 74.37 points, or 0.22%, to close at 33,997.53. Walt Disney Company (DIS) led the index's gainers, climbing by 1.1% after its upcoming shareholder meeting next Wednesday. Other notable performers included Chevron Corporation (CVX), which ascended by 0.9% following the rise in oil prices, and Home Depot (HD), which slipped by a mere 0.6% despite its announcement to acquire SRS Distribution for $18.25 billion.

S&P 500 Index

The SPX advanced by 10.91 points, or 0.28%, to settle at 3,911.65. Estée Lauder Companies (EL) surged by 6.2% after Bank of America analysts upgraded its stock to buy, citing potential for substantial growth. Discover Financial Services (DFS) rose by 2.4% following the departure of its CEO, Michael Rhodes, who will assume the role of CEO at Ally Financial. Homebuilders PulteGroup (PHM) and Lennar Corporation (LEN) climbed by 2.2% and 2.1%, respectively, due to data indicating an uptick in home sales in February, fueling expectations of a thawing housing market ahead of spring.

Nasdaq 100 Index

The NDX closed flat at 13,274.34, with Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) recording a significant 3.2% gain despite a steep quarterly loss attributed to an impairment charge of $6 billion. Nvidia Corporation (NVDA), the index's top performer year-to-date, remained unchanged. Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) retraced by 3.6% after a surge on Wednesday following the announcement of a $750 million partnership with Blackstone to develop flu shots.

Notable Market Developments

• Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) shed 2.3% as investors awaited its first-quarter delivery numbers.
• Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), the index's newest and top-performing stock this quarter, lost 1.3%.
• Carnival Corporation (CCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) retreated by 4.9% and 1.9%, respectively, despite earlier gains following the release of their first-quarter financial results.