Major US stock indices have risen strongly, helped by favorable reports from Microsoft, Twitter, Ford and Visa, as well as the rally in the technology sector, the services sector and the financial sector.

The focus of investors was also data on the US housing market. The National Association of Realtors reported that unfinished home sales transactions rose slightly in the United States as a whole, and increased significantly in both the West and the Midwest. The index of pending home sales rose to 104.6 in September from 104.1 in August. However, compared to the same period last year, contracts signed decreased by 1.0%, which led to an annual decline for the ninth consecutive month. Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, says that, despite the fact that we are still seeing a decline on an annualized basis, the latest monthly increase is a good stabilizing trend. "This shows that buyers are still on the sidelines, waiting to get back into inventory review, and the market price is right," he said.

In addition, today the representative of the Federal Reserve Clarida confirmed the Central Bank's plans to gradually increase interest rates and explained why strong economic growth may not cause an increase in inflation, which requires a more drastic increase in interest rates. He said that the economy, more than in the previous 10 years, was close to the Fed's target figures, designed to increase employment while maintaining price stability, and noted that the question was how to maintain achievements.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (23 of 30). The growth leader was Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, + 6.31%). The outsider was Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -1.69%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The technological sector grew the most (+ 3.0%). Decline showed only the utilities sector (-0.9%)

At the time of closing:

Dow 24,984.35 +400.93 +1.63%

S & P 500 2,705.61 +49.51 +1.86%

Nasdaq 100 7,318.34 +209.94 +2.95%

U.S. stock-index futures rose on Thursday, pointing to a rebound after the previous day's plunge. Strong earnings reports from a raft of companies supported the market sentiment as well.

Global Stocks:

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

Ford Motor (F) target lowered $10 from $12.50 at BofA/Merrill

Caterpillar (CAT) upgraded to Hold from Sell at DZ Bank

Twitter (TWTR) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $0.21 per share (versus $0.10 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.14.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $0.758 bln (+28.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.701 bln.

TWTR rose to $ 31.56 (14.6%) in pre-market trading.

Merck (MRK) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $1.19 per share (versus $1.11 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.14.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $10.794 bln (+4.5% y/y), slightly missing analysts' consensus estimate of $10.896 bln.

The company also issued guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $4.30-4.36 (compared to its prior guidance of $4.22-4.30 and analysts' consensus estimate of $4.29) and revenues of $42.1-42.7 bln (compared to its prior guidance of $42-42.8 bln and analysts' consensus estimate of $42.54 ).

MRK rose to $71.50 (+1.36%) in pre-market trading.

Int'l Paper (IP) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $1.56 per share (versus $1.08 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.48.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.901 bln (+7.0% y/y), generally in line with analysts' consensus estimate of $5.871 bln.

IP closed Wednesday's trading session at $39.69 (-4.08%).

Altria (MO) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $1.08 per share (versus $0.90 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.06.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.292 bln (+3.3% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $5.207 bln.

The company also issued in-line guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $3.95-4.03 compared to its prior guidance of $3.94-4.03 and analysts' consensus estimate of $4.00.

MO fell to $62.12 (-0.3%) in pre-market trading.

Visa (V) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $1.21 per share (versus $0.90 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.20.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.434 bln (+11.9% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $5.432 bln.

V rose to $136.01 (1.30%) in pre-market trading.

Ford Motor (F) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $0.29 per share (versus $0.44 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.28.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $34.660 bln (+3.0% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $32.955 bln.

The company also reaffirmed FY 2018 EPS guidance at $1.30-1.50 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $1.31.

F rose to $8.46 (+3.42%) in pre-market trading.

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $2.90 per share versus a loss of $0.07 in Q3 FY 2017 and analysts' consensus estimate of a $2.92 loss.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $6.824 bln (+128.6% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $6.266 bln.

TSLA rose to $313.99 (+8.84%) in pre-market trading.

Microsoft (MSFT) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $1.14 per share (versus $0.84 in Q1 FY 2018), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.96.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $29.089 bln (+18.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $27.923 bln.

MSFT rose to $106.20 (+3.79%) in pre-market trading.

Barrick Gold (ABX) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $0.08 per share (versus $0.16 in Q3 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.06.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $1.837 bln (-5.0% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.798 bln.

ABX rose to $13.12 (+0.08%) in pre-market trading.

A negative start of trading on the stock markets of Europe is expected, following a sharp drop in prices in the U.S and in the APR trading. Concerns about geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and global economic growth have weakened investor sentiment.