03:45 PM EDT, 07/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were higher ahead of Friday's close as markets assessed the latest corporate earnings and economic data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.6% at 40,558.1, while the S&P 500 rose 1% to 5,451.9. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.8% to 17,316.8. All sectors were ahead, led by industrials, real estate, and materials.

3M ( MMM ) , Mohawk Industries ( MHK ) and Charter Communications ( CHTR ) shares jumped after the companies reported their latest quarterly results, while DexCom's ( DXCM ) shares slumped following a Q2 revenue miss.

The US 10-year yield dropped 6.6 basis points to 4.19%, while the two-year rate fell 5.6 basis points to 4.3%.

The pace of US consumer spending growth eased in June, while the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric held steady on an annual basis, government data showed.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 2% to $76.71 a barrel.