02:38 PM EDT, 10/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday as markets assessed the latest economic data and corporate earnings ahead of Netflix's ( NFLX ) results.

The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.3% at 18,412.2 after midday Thursday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% to 43,168.9. The S&P 500 advanced 0.1% to 5,845.1. Among sectors, technology led the gainers, while utilities, real estate and consumer staples saw the steepest declines.

In economic news, US retail sales climbed more than expected in September amid increased spending at restaurants and apparel stores in a sign consumers remained resilient through the key back-to-school period.

US industrial production decreased more than projected last month, weighed down by a strike at plane maker Boeing ( BA ) and two hurricanes, Federal Reserve data showed.

"While the effects of these events should be short-lived, the strike at Boeing ( BA ) is ongoing, and Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in October, will likely show up in the early (fourth-quarter) numbers," Desjardins said in a report.

Weekly applications for unemployment insurance in the US fell last week, while continuing claims rose to their highest level since late July, government data showed Thursday.

Retail sales, jobless claims and industrial production data reinforce BMO's view that the Fed will cut interest rates "at a more gradual pace." The central bank lowered its benchmark lending rate by 50 basis point last month, marking its first cut since March 2020.

The US 10-year yield rose 8.4 basis points to 4.1% intraday, while the two-year rate gained five basis points to 3.99%.

Streaming giant Netflix ( NFLX ) is scheduled to report results after Thursday's closing bell, along with companies like Intuitive Surgical ( ISRG ) and WD-40 ( WDFC ) .

In company news, Blackstone (BX) shares were up 7.2%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500, after the alternative asset manager logged third-quarter earnings above Wall Street's estimates, while its assets under management grew.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( TSM ) issued an upbeat fourth-quarter revenue guidance, reflecting robust demand across artificial intelligence and smartphones. The chipmaker's US-listed shares jumped nearly 12%.

Broadcom ( AVGO ) , Micron Technology ( MU ) and Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares saw gains between 2.8% and 4.2%, the top performers on the Nasdaq.

Elevance Health ( ELV ) saw the biggest drop on the S&P 500, down 12%, after the health insurer slashed its full-year earnings outlook. The company's third-quarter revenue beat the Street's estimates, while bottom-line missed expectations amid challenges in the Medicaid business.

CSX (CSX) shares fell 5.7%, the worst Nasdaq performer and among the worst on the S&P 500. Late Wednesday, the rail-based freight transportation supplier posted third-quarter results that fell short of market estimates. The company expects the impact of Hurricane Helene to be larger in the ongoing quarter than in the previous three-month period.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 0.2% to $70.28 a barrel intraday.

Gold was up 0.6% at $2,707.8 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 0.4% to $31.84 per ounce.