The main US stock indices increased noticeably due to a rise in the price of Facebook shares (FB) after the publication of quarterly results, and against the backdrop of declining yield on US bonds, which improved the mood on Wall Street.

Investors also estimated the statistics on the United States. Demand for durable goods in the US rose in March due to increased orders for aircraft, but the main sensor of business investment fell. Orders for durable goods - manufactured goods designed for a lifetime of at least three years, for example, furnaces and industrial robots - increased seasonally by 2.6% compared to February. Economists had expected growth of 1.6%.

Meanwhile, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has fallen to the lowest level since 1969, the last sign that the labor market is strengthening after years of stable employment growth. Initial applications for unemployment benefits, a measure of layoffs in all US states, fell by 24,000 to 209,000, seasonally adjusted for the week before April 21, the Ministry of Labor said. It was the lowest level since December 6, 1969, at the beginning of the Nixon administration. Economists had expected 230,000 initial hits.

Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday, supported by expectations of the resumption of US sanctions against Iran, the reduction in production in Venezuela and the continued high demand. Over the past four weeks, oil quotations have risen 15% on expectations that the United States will reintroduce sanctions against Iran, a major oil producer and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (25 out of 30). Leader of growth - Visa Inc. (V, + 4.79%). Outsider - The Walt Disney Company (DIS, -1.19%).

Almost all sectors of S & P completed the auction in positive territory. The technological sector grew most (+ 1.7%). Decrease showed only the conglomerate sector (-2.2%). and the sector of industrial goods (-0.2%)

At closing:

Dow 24,322.27 +238.44 +0.99%

S&P 500 2,666.95 +27.55 +1.04%

Nasdaq 100 7,118.68 +114.94 +1.64%

U.S. stock-index futures rose on Thursday, as a slew of strong company earnings helped overshadow worries over growing U.S. Threasury yields and corporate costs.

Global Stocks:

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

Twitter (TWTR) upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Atlantic Equities

Twitter (TWTR) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie

Boeing (BA) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Societe Generale

Altria (MO) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $0.95 per share (versus $0.73 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.91.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $4.670 bln (+1.8% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $4.627 bln.

The company reaffirmed guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $3.90-4.03 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $3.97.

MO fell to $55.50 (-0.61%) in pre-market trading.

Int'l Paper (IP) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $0.94 per share (versus $0.60 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.89.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.621 bln (+9.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $5.483 bln.

IP closed Wednesday's trading session at $53.48 (+1.36%).

General Motors (GM) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $1.43 per share (versus $1.70 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.27.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $36.100 bln (-12.4% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $34.672 bln.

GM fell to $37.89 (-0.58%) in pre-market trading.

Visa (V) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.11 per share (versus $0.86 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.01.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.073 bln (+13.3% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $4.820 bln.

V rose to $123.83 (+2.16%) in pre-market trading.

Ford Motor (F) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $0.43 per share (versus $0.39 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.41.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $41.959 bln (+7.2% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $37.057 bln.

The company reaffirmed FY 2018 EPS guidance at $1.45-1.70 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $1.58. It also said it forecast FY 2018 revenues to be modestly higher than in 2017 versus flat to modestly higher prior.

F rose to $11.27 (+1.44%) in pre-market trading.

Facebook (FB) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $1.69 per share (versus $1.04 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.33.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $11.966 bln (+49.0% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $11.411 bln.

FB rose to $170.70 (+6.89%) in pre-market trading.

AT&T (T) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $0.85 per share (versus $0.74 in Q1 FY 2017), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $0.88.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $38.038 bln (-3.4% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $39.356 bln.

T fell to $33.84 (-3.86%) in pre-market trading.