US equities end up for 2nd straight session; Dow at record high

US stocks closed higher on Thursday after a choppy trading driven by sharp swings in oil prices and Treasury yields, while investors monitored developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 276 points, or 0.55%, to 50,285, marking its first record close in more than three months.

The S&P 500 gained 0.17%, or 12 points, to 7,445, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.10%, or 22 points, to close at a record high of 26,293 for the second straight session.

In Europe, the pan-European STOXX 600 index was little changed at 620 points.

The UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.11% to 10,443, while France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.39% to 8,085. Germany’s DAX edged down 0.15% to 24,606.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.31%, or 516 points, to close at 61,684, extending gains for a third consecutive session.

Brent crude futures for September delivery fell 2.32%, or $2.49, to settle at $102.58 a barrel.

US WTI crude for July delivery dropped 1.94%, or $1.91, to close at $96.35 a barrel.

Gold futures for August delivery rose 0.15%, or $7.20, to $4,542.50 per ounce.

Markets remain caught between easing concerns over a widening conflict involving Iran and the US, and fading optimism over a potential nuclear agreement, resulting in continued volatility across oil prices and Treasury yields despite hopes for a negotiated end to hostilities.