04:24 PM EDT, 04/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes closed mixed on Thursday as crude oil prices rose after President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would continue for weeks amid reports of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

* Iran and Oman are drafting a joint protocol to monitor transit and help ensure safe passage through the strait once the conflict ends, multiple media reports said.

* Employers in the US announced 60,620 layoffs last month, up 25% from February and down 78% from a year earlier, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

* US initial jobless claims last week fell to 202,000 from an upwardly revised 211,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $11.41 to settle at $111.53 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $7.45 at $108.66.

* SBA Communications ( SBAC ) is exploring a potential sale, among other options, after receiving preliminary takeover interest, Bloomberg reported. Shares of the company jumped 19%, the biggest gain on the S&P 500.

* Tesla's (TSLA) Q1 deliveries missed Wall Street's forecast, and Wedbush Securities highlighted a challenging demand environment for the electric vehicle maker. Shares of the company fell 5.4%, the largest decline on the S&P.