US Stocks Post Mixed Results Amid Earnings and Anticipation

US stocks exhibited a mixed performance on Thursday as investors awaited Amazon's quarterly financial release and assessed the ongoing earnings season.

* The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) declined by 0.3%.
* The S&P 500 Index (GSPC) gained more than 0.3%.
* The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) rose by 0.5%, extending a two-day winning streak.

Despite easing trade concerns earlier in the week, the market remained cautious as investors scrutinized incoming earnings for indications of weakness. AI-related results were analyzed for insights into demand growth.

Investors Await Amazon Earnings

Amazon's quarterly report was highly anticipated, scheduled to be released following the bell. The e-commerce giant's performance was closely watched after Alphabet's underwhelming cloud sales results.

Corporate News

* Salesforce (CRM) shares dropped after announcing management changes.
* Honeywell (HON) shares declined following the conglomerate's confirmation of a three-way split.

Treasury Yield Movement

In economic news, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to alleviate pressure on the Federal Reserve, indicating that President Trump desired lower 10-year Treasury yields to facilitate borrowing rather than reducing interest rates.

Unemployment Update

Jobless claims unexpectedly rose to 219,000 last week, slightly above estimates. The figure raised concerns ahead of Friday's monthly jobs report, as investors sought clues about the Fed's potential policy decisions amid inflationary pressures.

Key Earnings Highlights

* Amazon reported revenue below analyst expectations and provided gloomy guidance for the first quarter.
* Nvidia (NVDA) shares surged as AI-related mentions reached record highs in earnings calls.
* Ford (F) shares plummeted after it issued subdued guidance for the year.
* Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) lost value as Apple shifted business to a competitor.
* Arm Holdings (ARM) and Qualcomm (QCOM) shares fell despite positive earnings results, reflecting investor skepticism about the impact of AI demand on their products.
* Peloton (PTON) shares soared on strong sales driven by a Costco partnership.
* Eli Lilly (LLY) reported mixed results and revised its 2025 guidance.