Market Performance - The S&P 500 Index closed up +0.48%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index up +0.27%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index up +0.95% on Thursday, with all three indexes reaching new record highs [1][2] - September E-mini S&P futures rose +0.50%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures rose +0.92% [1] Economic Indicators - Weekly initial unemployment claims fell by -33,000 to 231,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the expected 240,000 [5] - The September Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey rose by +23.5 to an 8-month high of 23.2, surpassing expectations of 1.7 [5] - August leading indicators fell -0.5% month-over-month, which was weaker than the expected -0.2% and marked the largest decline in four months [6] Sector Performance - Semiconductor stocks led the technology sector higher, with Intel surging more than +22% after Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in the company for co-developing chips [2][12] - Other notable gainers in the semiconductor sector included KLA Corp, ASML Holding NV, and Applied Materials, all closing up more than +6% [12] Company News - CrowdStrike Home closed up more than +12% following an investor briefing discussing its AI strategy and a strong preliminary fiscal 2027 outlook [13] - 89bio closed up more than +85% after Roche announced its intention to acquire the company for $3.5 billion or $14.50 per share [13] - Allstate closed up more than +4% after reporting August catastrophe losses of $168 million, down -8.7% month-over-month [14] - Cooper Companies closed up more than +4% after its board approved a $1 billion increase in its stock buyback program [14] Earnings Reports - FactSet Research Systems closed down more than -10% after reporting Q4 adjusted EPS of $4.05, below the consensus of $4.15, and forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS weaker than expected [15] - Darden Restaurants closed down more than -7% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS below consensus [16]