03:50 PM EDT, 10/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes rose ahead of Thursday's close as traders evaluated the latest economic data and corporate earnings before Netflix's ( NFLX ) results.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.4% at 43,240.9, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.1% to 18,390.9 and the S&P 500 was little changed, paring earlier gains. Among sectors, technology led the gainers, while utilities posted the steepest decline.

US retail sales climbed more than expected in September amid increased spending at restaurants and apparel stores in a sign consumers remained resilient through the back-to-school period.

US industrial production decreased more than projected last month, weighed down by a strike at Boeing ( BA ) and two hurricanes, Federal Reserve data showed.

Weekly applications for unemployment insurance in the US fell last week, while continuing claims rose to the highest since late July, government data showed.

The US 10-year yield rose 7.5 basis points to 4.09%, while the two-year rate gained 4.1 basis points to 3.98%.

Netflix ( NFLX ) is scheduled to report financial results after the closing bell, along with companies including Intuitive Surgical ( ISRG ) and WD-40 ( WDFC ) .

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.5% to $70.74 a barrel.