Dow Jones extended gains to just over 1%; the S&P 500 and Nasdaq narrowed losses, down 0.12% and 0.89% respectively.

S&P 500 is consolidating ahead of Thursday's US nonfarm payrolls, with traders eyeing dip-buying, a triangle-pattern risk and a possible move toward 7,600. Wednesday's session was volatile after some front-running ahead of the print. Consensus expects +114k jobs and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Analysts say any sell-off during Thursday trading—unless payrolls show an unusually strong beat—would be a buy-on-dip opportunity. Market focus will be on how actual data compare with expectations; an in-line print could be uneventful, confirming continued US economic activity and leaving short-term pullbacks as potential buying opportunities.

Syrian state TV says a Damascus explosion was caused by a bomb.