U.S. stocks pared early losses Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average
falling 0.13% while the S&P 500 rose 0.11% and the Nasdaq Composite gained
0.18%. Markets initially dropped after Donald Trump signaled further escalation
in Iran, but sentiment improved as Iran and Oman discussed a protocol to manage
traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil remained volatile, with WTI rising 11%
above $111 and Brent up 6% above $108. Jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 202,000
ahead of Friday’s payrolls report.