Equities surged on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting record highs, boosted by positive economic data and earnings reports. Jobless claims fell, indicating steady job growth. U.S. retail sales rebounded in June, driven by higher prices due to tariffs. Taiwan Semiconductor and GE Aerospace reported strong profits amid trade concerns. Wall Street saw gains with strong earnings from PepsiCo and United Airlines. Major indices closed at record highs. Global stocks rose, led by Europe’s STOXX 600. The dollar strengthened, while Treasury yields fluctuated. Oil prices rose on supply risks in the Middle East. Gold prices fell on upbeat U.S. economic data.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Equities and dollar rise with encouragement from economic data and earnings