NEW YORK, New York - On Thursday, most major U.S. indices finished in positive territory. The day's activity reflected investor optimism around technology and growth sectors,.

U.S. Markets

• Standard and Poor's 500 (ticker ^GSPC) closed at 6,715.35, up +4.15, or +0.06 percent, on volume of about 3.022 billion shares.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose to 46,519.72, adding +78.62, or +0.17 percent, on volume near 442.122 million.

• NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) posted the strongest gain among the U.S. majors, closing at 22,844.05, up +88.89, or +0.39 percent, on volume of ~8.423 billion.

Elsewhere on Wall Street:

• The NYSE Composite ( ^NYA ) slipped to 21,607.97, down −32.03, or −0.15 percent.

• The NYSE American Composite ( ^XAX ) declined more sharply, finishing at 6,908.40, down −69.01, or −0.99 percent.

• The Russell 2000 ( ^RUT ), a gauge of small‑cap stocks, rebounded, closing at 2,458.49, up +16.14, or +0.66 percent.

• The VIX volatility index ( ^VIX ) ended at 16.66, up +0.37, or +2.27 percent, signaling slightly elevated investor caution.

Canada 

• S&P/TSX Composite (Canada, ^GSPTSE ) ticked higher to 30,160.59, up +52.92, or +0.18 percent, with volume ~270.941 million.

UK and European Markets

• FTSE 100 (UK, ^FTSE) closed at 9,427.73, down −18.70, or −0.20 percent.

• Germany's DAX ( ^GDAXI ) saw a strong gain, finishing at 24,422.56, up +308.94, or +1.28 percent.

• CAC 40 (France, ^FCHI ) rose to 8,056.63, gaining +89.68, or +1.13 percent.

• EURO STOXX 50 ( ^STOXX50E ) gained +64.60, or +1.16 percent, to close at 5,645.81.

• Euronext 100 ( ^N100 ) moved higher to 1,691.23, up +15.96, or +0.95 percent.

• BEL 20 (Belgium, ^BFX ) added +10.96, or +0.22 percent, closing at 4,918.73.

• MSCI Europe ( ^125904‑USD‑STRD ) ended at 2,532.75, up +7.32, or +0.29 percent.

Asia, Pacific & Emerging Markets

• Hang Seng (Hong Kong, ^HSI ) rallied, closing at 27,287.12, up +431.56, or +1.61 percent.

• STI Index (Singapore, ^STI ) ended at 4,395.21, up +72.09, or +1.67 percent.

• S&P/ASX 200 (Australia, ^AXJO ) rose to 8,945.90, up +100.20, or +1.13 percent.

• All Ordinaries (Australia, ^AORD ) similarly gained +103.70, or +1.13 percent, closing at 9,240.30.

• Sensex (India, ^BSESN ) advanced to 80,983.31, up +715.70, or +0.89 percent.

• IDX Composite (Indonesia, ^JKSE ) rose modestly to 8,071.08, gaining +27.26, or +0.34 percent.

• Kuala Lumpur ( ^KLSE ) closed at 1,637.80, up +16.93, or +1.04 percent.

• NZX 50 (New Zealand, ^NZ50 ) ended at 13,451.76, up +17.77, or +0.13 percent.

• KOSPI (South Korea, ^KS11 ) posted a strong gain, closing at 3,549.21, up +93.38, or +2.70 percent.

• TWSE (Taiwan, ^TWII ) rose to 26,378.39, up +395.48, or +1.52 percent.

• SSE Composite (China, 000001.SS ) closed at 3,882.78, up +20.25, or +0.52 percent.

• Nikkei 225 (Japan, ^N225 ) rose to 44,936.73, up +385.88, or +0.87 percent.

Latin America 

• S&P/TSX Composite (Canada, ^GSPTSE ) ticked higher to 30,160.59, up +52.92, or +0.18 percent, with volume ~270.941 million.

• IBOVESPA (Brazil, ^BVSP ) fell, closing at 144,003.75, down −1,513.59, or −1.04 percent.

• IPC Mexico ( ^MXX ) ended at 62,260.62, up +330.90, or +0.53 percent.

• IPSA (Chile, ^IPSA ) dipped to 8,900.35, down −39.02, or −0.44 percent.

• Merval (Argentina, ^MERV ) surged to 1,808,661.25, up +44,071.38, or +2.50 percent.

• EGX 30 (Egypt, ^CASE30 ) rose to 36,900.70, up +131.50, or +0.36 percent.

• FTSE/JSE All Share (South Africa, ^JN0U.JO ) ended at 6,277.31, down −87.16, or −1.37 percent.

Currencies

• U.S. Dollar Index ( DX‑Y.NYB ) closed at 97.85, up +0.15, or +0.15 percent.

• British Pound Currency Index ( ^XDB ) closed at 134.43, down −0.35, or −0.26 percent.

• Euro Currency Index ( ^XDE ) fell to 117.19, down −0.10, or −0.09 percent.

• Japanese Yen Currency Index ( ^XDN ) ended at 67.92, down −0.07, or −0.11 percent.

• Australian Dollar Index ( ^XDA ) closed at 65.96, down −0.17, or −0.26 percent.

Market Takeaways & Outlook

The U.S. equity market's modest advances were broadly supported by strength in technology and growth sectors, as investors remained hopeful over potential central bank easing. The NASDAQ's 0.39 percent gain underscores the continued appetite for tech exposure, while the Russell 2000's 0.66 percent bounce suggests smaller capital names remain in play.

Volatility, as measured by the VIX, ticked up 2.27 percent, signaling a slight uptick in investor caution as markets balance optimism and risk.

In Europe, strong gains in Germany and France reflect buoyant sentiment around economic resilience and corporate earnings, while the U.K.'s FTSE underperformed, weighed by sector rotations and mixed domestic data.

Asia-Pacific markets were broadly higher, led by robust performances in markets such as Korea and Hong Kong. Latin America showed divergence: Mexico and Argentina logged gains, while Brazil and South Africa slipped.

Going forward, markets will likely stay tuned to central bank decisions, macroeconomic data (especially inflation, employment, and growth indicators), and geopolitical developments. Any surprises in interest rate moves or global trade flows could quickly shift sentiment.

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