US markets end higher on Thursday

24 Mar 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher in volatile session on Thursday as market participants were reassured by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's reassurances that measures will be taken to keep Americans' deposits safe and fresh concerns of a US banking crisis. Meanwhile, investors continued to digest the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate hike. The Fed hiked interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, representing its 9th consecutive interest rate hike since it started the tightening policy in March 2022.  On the sectoral front, semiconductor stocks moved sharply higher on the day, driving the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index up by 2.7 percent to its best closing level in eleven months. Software stocks also showed a strong move to the upside on the day, with the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index climbing by 1.8 percent.

Meanwhile, oil service stocks came under pressure over the course of the session, dragging the Philadelphia Oil Service Index down by 2.5 percent. A notable decrease by the price of crude oil weighed on the sector. on the economic data front, a report released by the Labor Department unexpectedly showed a slight decrease by first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended March 18th. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims slipped to 191,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 192,000. Street had expected jobless claims to rise to 201,000. The report said the less volatile four-week moving average also edged down to 196,250, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 196,500.

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 75.14 points or 0.23 percent to 32,105.25, Nasdaq rose 117.44 points or 1.01 percent to 11,787.4 and S&P 500 was up by 11.75 points 0.3 percent to 3,948.72.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×