US Equity Markets End Mixed Amid Rising Oil Prices, Strong Macroeconomic Data

04:26 PM EDT, 09/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were mixed Thursday amid stronger macroeconomic data, higher oil prices, and rising government bond yields. * Initial jobless claims fell to 197,000 in the week ended Sept. 19 from an upwardly revised 198,000, compared with expectations of a 200,000 rise in a Bloomberg-compiled poll. The four-week moving average declined by 1,750 to 202,250. * New-home sales rose to an annual rate of 684,000 in August from an upwardly revised 643,000 in July, above the 616,000 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Home sales were still down 2.0% from August 2025. * The Kansas City Fed monthly manufacturing index rose to 14 in September from 10 in August, compared with expectations for 9 in a Bloomberg-compiled poll. * October West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.99 to settle at $95.15 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $4.26 at $107.39. * Everpure (P) shares rose roughly 11%, the top performer on the S&P 500, said late Wednesday it is reiterating fiscal 2027 adjusted operating income guidance of $940 million to $960 million, with revenue of $5.03 billion to $5.07 billion. * Gen Digital (GEN) has made an initial takeover approach for GoDaddy (GDDY) as it seeks to expand beyond cybersecurity and privacy technology, the Financial Times reported. Gen Digital shares fell roughly 12%, the worst performer on the S&P 500, and GoDaddy rose about 4.6%.