- Hong Kong, Shanghai stand out in Asia on China property support
- IEA warns of key energy mineral shortage risk
- Israel says S.Africa 'genocide' case 'totally divorced' from facts
- Defender Matip to leave Liverpool at end of season
- Musk confirms Twitter has become X.com
- Gomes eyes becoming first Portuguese coach to win CAF Cup
- Crisis-ridden Boeing prepares for turbulence at annual meeting
- Hong Kong, Shanghai stand out in Asia after China property move
- Coppola faces press after epic 'Megalopolis' splits Cannes
- China offers to buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- US military says first aid delivered to Gaza via temporary pier
- Muslim professionals quit 'hostile' France in silent brain drain
- China cuts rates, could buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- Costner, Gere, Demi Moore: Hollywood icons on Cannes comeback trail
- Brazil to host 2027 Women's World Cup as Gaza overshadows FIFA meeting
- Palestinians call for Israeli ban as Gaza war spills into football
- Crisis-ridden Boeing hopes for quiet annual meeting
- Vienna Festival director Milo Rau hits back at anti-Semitism accusations
- China says could buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- Rapidus 'last opportunity' to put Japan back on global chip map
- Despite Western pressure, China in no hurry to reduce Russia support
- For sale: unique piece of land in strategic Arctic archipelago
- La Rochelle in the spotlight as tight Top 14 run-in commences
- Three key issues to watch for in La Liga this weekend
- Departing Hayes urges Chelsea to seize 'second chance' in WSL race
- Leverkusen eye 'immortality' as Union fight for final day survival
- Klopp leaves lasting legacy after restoring Liverpool to elite
- Putin in trade push on final day of China trip
- Timberwolves crush Nuggets to stay alive in NBA playoffs
- Taiwan president takes office under close scrutiny
- Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court
- Chinese officials meet to mull support for developers: Bloomberg
- 'Hindu nation': Religion trumps caste in India vote
- Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records
- Taiwan's Lai to bolster 'porcupine' defence against China threat
- Dominican Republic to vote in poll dominated by Haiti crisis
- The Dominican Republic: from Columbus to cruise ships
- Forced to give birth after rape, Honduran woman seeks UN remedy
- Reddit gives OpenAI access to its wealth of posts
- Turkey court jails Kurdish leader for 42 years over 2014 unrest
- US plans to end leasing in its largest coal-producing region
- Kim's sister denies N. Korea exporting weapons to Russia
- Schauffele equals record-low major round with 62 to lead PGA
- Alternate Lee seizes opportunity to grab LPGA Americas Open lead
- Swiatek to face Sabalenka for Rome title and Serena record
- Mystik Dan goes for Triple Crown 2nd leg in Preakness
- 'Grand Theft Auto VI' release set for late 2025
- Global coral bleaching event expanding to new countries: scientists
- US Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms to Israel
- Lopez double earns Barca win at relegated Almeria
US stocks advance ahead of April payroll data
US stocks rose on Thursday as investors digested the Federal Reserve interest rate outlook and awaited Apple's latest results on the eve of critical payroll data.
Large technology companies enjoyed a positive session, lifting the Nasdaq amid continued bullishness over artificial intelligence.
After the market closed Thursday, Apple reported a two percent drop in quarterly profits to $23.7 billion as it announced an epic $110 billion share buyback, propelling shares higher in after-hours trading.
Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell warned Wednesday US interest rates would stay higher for longer, after the central bank left borrowing costs on hold once again.
Powell's remarks, however, were tempered by his assurance that rates would not likely be hiked again, soothing worries in some quarters that the bank's battle to bring inflation back to its two percent target would need to be stepped up.
The Fed also said it would slow down the pace at which it shrinks its balance sheet, having bought up vast amounts of bonds previously to keep rates low.
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note retreated a day after Powell said an interest rate hike was unlikely.
"The investors are breathing a sigh of relief because Fed Chair Powell basically said that a rate hike is unlikely," said Sam Stovall of CFRA Research. "And that I think was the biggest concern that investors had going into the Fed meeting where they thought that Powell would be more hawkish than he actually was."
Elsewhere, London's stocks rose, helped by forecast-busting first-quarter earnings from energy major Shell, but Frankfurt and Paris retreated as both markets returned from a May Day holiday.
Currency traders will be keeping a nervous watch on the yen on Friday and Monday, which are holidays in Japan that usually cause thin liquidity, while analysts said a strong US jobs report could also send the dollar racing higher again.
Soon after Powell's comments on Wednesday, the yen soared around three percent to 153.04 per dollar, raising suspicion that Japanese officials had stepped into forex markets again.
It subsequently slid back but then pushed higher against the dollar.
A rally on Monday -- after the yen hit a new 34-year low of 160.17 -- had led to similar speculation.
- Key figures around 2030 GMT -
New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 38,225.66 (close)
New York - S&P 500: UP 0.9 percent at 5,064.20 (close)
New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.5 percent at 15,840.96 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,172.15 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,914.65 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 17,896.50 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.6 percent at 4,890.61 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 38,236.07 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 2.5 percent at 18,207.13 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.52 yen from 154.57 yen on Wednesday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0731 from $1.0712
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2537 from $1.2527
Euro/pound: UP at 85.56 pence from 85.50 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.1 percent at $78.95 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.3 percent at $83.67 per barrel
burs-jmb/bjt
M.Furrer--BTB