04:03 PM EDT, 10/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Thursday as markets assessed the latest economic data and corporate earnings ahead of Netflix's (NFLX) results.

* 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 key back-to-school period.

* Retail sales, jobless claims and industrial production data reinforce BMO's view that the Fed will cut interest rates "at a more gradual pace." The central bank lowered its benchmark lending rate by 50 basis point last month, marking its first cut since March 2020.

* November West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.28 to settle at $70.67 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.24 to $74.46 on easing geopolitical worries and an unexpected drop in US inventories last week.

* Blackstone (BX) shares were up 6.5% after the alternative asset manager logged Q3 earnings above Wall Street's estimates, while its assets under management grew.

* Elevance Health ( ELV ) fell 12%. The health insurer slashed its full-year earnings outlook. The company's Q3 revenue beat the Street's estimates, while earnings missed expectations amid challenges in the Medicaid business.