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Stocks ended a shaky day of trading on Wall Street roughly where they began following a couple sudden reversals.
The S&P 500 finished Thursday nearly flat and edged down by less than 0.1% following several turns between losses and gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite added less than 0.1%. Stocks have slowed their rally since the S&P 500 climbed to the brink of its all-time high earlier this week as pressure from the bond market has cranked higher.
Trump says little about tensions for US, China
Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met on Thursday for important talks on the U.S.-China relationship. They are divided on issues like the Iran war and trade, but both leaders hope personal rapport can prevent conflict.
Trump emphasized their friendship, while Xi stressed healthy competition. Xi warned against falling into the "Thucydides trap," the theory that rising powers clash with established ones. China is resisting U.S. pressure on Iran, while Xi urges Trump to handle Taiwan carefully. They also discussed AI, agreeing it should remain under human control.
Unemployment benefits claims drop
Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as U.S. jobless claims remain at historically low levels and most Americans enjoy job security.
The Labor Department said Thursday that 197,000 people applied for unemployment checks last week, fewest since mid-July and down from a revised 198,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, fell to 202,250 last week from 204,000.
FDA nominee says vaccines are safe
President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration is voicing support for the safety of vaccines.
Dr. Heidi Overton on Thursday faced questions from senators who will vote on her nomination to lead the powerful health agency. Currently serving as a White House adviser, Overton has worked on Trump administration health efforts, including a plan from the Republican president to break up decades-old combination vaccines for children.
Chinese auto companies race to EV technology
Major Chinese auto group Geely has unveiled new ultrafast EV charging technology that can recharge a battery from 10% to 70% in just 4.5 minutes.
This development is seen as significant for the company, as it joins BYD and CATL in the race for EV charging speeds within several minutes. Experts say these advancements aim to eliminate drivers' range anxiety by narrowing the gap between EV charging and conventional 5-minute refueling times.
Argentina's poverty rate rises above 30%
Argentina's poverty rate rose sharply in the first half of 2026, marking the first significant setback after more than a year of declines under President Javier Milei.
The national statistics agency reported Thursday that 32.3% of Argentines surveyed were living below the poverty line, up from 28.2% in the second half of 2025, while extreme poverty rose to 7.5%. Poverty had surged to nearly 53% early in Milei's presidency before falling rapidly as inflation slowed. The latest increase came as household incomes failed to keep pace with the rising cost of basic goods, even as Milei's government defended its economic program.