03:52 PM EDT, 10/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were higher ahead of Wednesday's close as markets parsed the latest set of corporate earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.8% at 43,097.1, while the S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 5,843.6. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3% to 18,364.2. Among sectors, utilities paced the gainers, while communication services saw the steepest decline.

Shares of United Airlines (UAL) and Morgan Stanley ( MS ) were up after the companies reported their latest quarterly financial results, while ASML ( ASML ) fell for a second straight session.

The US 10-year yield dropped two basis points to 4.02%, while the two-year rate lost 1.6 basis points to 3.94%.

CSX (CSX), Kinder Morgan (KMI), Crown Castle (CCI) and PPG Industries (PPG) are among the companies scheduled to report results after the closing bell.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was little changed at $70.55 a barrel.