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US Stock Market Live Updates: US stock futures inched higher early Thursday, extending momentum from the previous session that pushed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite to fresh record closes.Futures tied to the Nasdaq 100 led the gains, rising to 0.3%, while S&P 500 futures added 0.1%. Contracts linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near the flatline, with marginal gains.The underlying rally, however, tells a more nuanced story.In the previous session, the benchmark index climbed 0.8%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq surged 1.59%, marking its 11th straight day of gains.The Dow, in contrast, slipped modestly, reflecting a divergence that’s becoming harder to ignore: this is still a tech-led market, not a broad-based one.The trigger remains geopolitical. Donald Trump said in an interview that the Iran war is “very close to over,” adding that Tehran is keen to strike a deal. He also flagged fresh talks between Israel and Lebanon, a key precondition for broader negotiations involving Iran.Behind the scenes, Washington and Tehran are exploring the possibility of extending the current ceasefire beyond April 22, with indirect discussions underway.US-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company fell 2.4% despite the chipmaker reporting a record first-quarter performance, with profit surging 58% and both revenue and net income beating analyst expectations.The company posted revenue of NT$1.134 trillion and net income of NT$572.48 billion, both ahead of consensus estimates, underscoring strong demand for advanced semiconductor technologies. However, sentiment was weighed down by plans to ramp up capital expenditure to the higher end of its $52–$56 billion guidance, marking a sharp increase from last year.Bank of America remains constructive on the stock, with analyst Haas Liu reiterating a buy rating, citing attractive valuation and the company’s leadership in cutting-edge chip manufacturing. The stock is still up more than 23% so far this year.Initial jobless claims in the US fell to 207,000 for the week ended April 11, coming in below both the previous week’s revised 218,000 and economists’ expectations of 213,000, indicating resilience in the labour market.Data from the US Department of Labor showed a continued trend of low layoffs, aligning with the Federal Reserve Beige Book, which highlighted stable labour demand, minimal job cuts, and hiring largely limited to replacement roles.Meanwhile, continuing claims rose slightly to 1.82 million for the week ended April 4, suggesting some increase in the number of people remaining unemployed, even as fresh layoffs stay muted.Wall Street opened Thursday on a steady note, extending momentum from the previous session’s record-setting run.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 0.3% at the open, adding over 130 points, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite gained around 0.2% each, with both indices touching fresh intraday highs.The positive start follows a milestone session on Wednesday, when the S&P 500 crossed the 7,000 mark for the first time, keeping sentiment supported at the open.Investor focus remains on geopolitical developments, particularly around the US-Iran conflict. Reports suggest both sides are in indirect talks to extend the current ceasefire beyond April 22, keeping hopes of de-escalation alive.On the earnings front, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and PepsiCo beat expectations on both revenue and profit, while Charles Schwab topped earnings estimates but missed on revenue. Netflix is scheduled to report after the closing bell.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite achieved key milestones in the previous session, setting the stage for a positive start to Thursday’s trade.

The S&P 500 closed above the 7,000 mark for the first time at 7,022.95, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq also notched its first-ever close above 24,000, ending at 24,016.02.

Both indices are now higher for the year, with the S&P 500 gaining over 2% and the Nasdaq advancing more than 3%, reflecting sustained momentum in equities.

PepsiCo rose about 1% in premarket trade after posting better-than-expected first-quarter results, with earnings and revenue topping analyst estimates.

PPG Industries surged 6% after announcing a global price increase of up to 20%, citing rising input costs across petrochemicals, energy, and transportation.

Meanwhile, Voyager Technologies jumped 7% after being selected by NASA for its seventh private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, expected to launch no earlier than 2028.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.