U.S. stock indexes are drifting Thursday following a mixed set of earnings reports from Morgan Stanley, UnitedHealth Group and other big companies. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 41 points,

BMO Capital Markets forecasts the S&P 500 will reach 6,700, reflecting a gain of 13.2%. Chief investment strategist Brian Belski said he and his team "remain resolutely bullish," but expect "performance and fundamentals will more closely match the historical norms -- namely, in the high-single digit/low-double-digit percentage range in 2025."

Asian shares traded mixed Tuesday, echoing Wall Street trading, where gains for oil-and-gas producers helped offset drops for Nvidia and other Big Tech companies. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 1.

Wall Street held firmer on Wednesday, a day after strong reports on the economy hurt U.S. stocks by stirring up worries that inflation and interest rates may remain higher than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 106 points,

Asian Shares Advance After Inflation Data Drives a Rally on Wall Street TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday, following a rally on Wall Street driven by encouraging update on U.S. inflation.

Markets are mixed before the opening bell on a busy Thursday that will bring the latest government report on retail sales, weekly applications for unemployment benefits, and a slew of corporate earnings reports.

US stocks climbed on Wednesday after inflation data boosted investors’ hopes for interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this year. Investors also cheered a strong set of quarterly results from the biggest US banks.