Major US stock indices have risen markedly, helped by the high quarterly results of Walmart (WMT) and Cisco (CSCO) and the easing of trade pressure after China and the United States said they would hold talks later this month.

Investors also attracted some attention from the US. The Ministry of Labor reported that for the week of August 11, initial applications for unemployment benefits fell by 2,000, to 212,000. Economists had expected that circulation would rise to 215,000 from 213,000 initially reported over the previous week. The four-week moving average rose to 215,500, which is 1000 more than the previous week (214,500).

Meanwhile, a report from the Ministry of Trade showed that bookings of new houses in July rose by 0.9% to an annual rate of 1.168 million after a fall of -12.9% to a revised rate of 1.158 million in June. Economists expected that the growth of bookmarks to 1,126 million from 1,173 million, originally reported in the previous month. In July, the number of start-ups for single-family houses increased by 0.9% after falling by -9.0% in June, while bookings of multi-family houses increased by 0.7% after falling by -22.3% earlier. The number of building permits rose by 1.5% in July to an annual rate of 1.311 million after a decline of -0.7% to a revised rate of 1.292 million in June. It was expected that construction permits will grow to 1.310 million from 1.273 million,

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (26 out of 30). Leader of growth were shares of Walmart Inc. (WMT, + 9.33%). Outsider were shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, -0.61%).

All sectors of S & P recorded a rise. The industrial goods sector grew most (+ 1.2%).

At closing:

Dow 25,558.73 +396.32 +1.58%

S&P 500 2,840.69 +22.32 +0.79%

Nasdaq 100 7,806.52 +32.41 +0.42%

U.S. stock-index futures rose on Thursday, supported by a set of upbeat earnings reports and news that trade talks between China and the U.S. would be resumed later this month.

Global Stocks:

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

United Technologies Corp. (UTX) initiated with Buy at UBS

Boeing (BA) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS; target $515

Wal-Mart (WMT) reported Q2 FY 2019 earnings of $1.29 per share (versus $1.08 in Q2 FY 2018), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.22.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $127.059 bln (+4.2% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $124.666 bln.

The company also raised FY 2019 EPS guidance to $4.90-5.05 from prior guidance of $4.75-5.00 (versus analysts' consensus forecast of $4.80) and the U.S. comparable sales growth guidance to +~3% y/y from prior guidance of + 2% y/y.

WMT rose to $98.70 (+9.40%) in pre-market trading.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $0.70 per share (versus $0.61 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.69.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $12.844 bln (+5.9% y/y), generally in line with analysts' consensus estimate of $12.762 bln.

The company also issued upside guidance for Q1 FY 2019, projecting EPS of $0.70-0.72 (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $0.69) and revenues of ~$12.74-13.0 bln (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $12.58 bln).

CSCO rose to $46.76 (+6.61%) in pre-market trading.