US Equity Markets End Higher After Technology Sector Gains Following Nvidia Results

04:14 PM EDT, 08/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes ended higher Thursday after the technology sector saw gains led by Nvidia's (NVDA) Q2 results. * Nvidia shares were up about 8.7%, among the top gainers across all three main indexes, after fiscal Q2 earnings and revenue more than doubled from a year earlier, and Q3 sales outlook beat estimates. * Qatar's foreign ministry said it is in discussions with Iran over an agreement to implement a "joint project" to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz as well as "efforts to reduce escalation and create appropriate conditions for dialogue," Al Jazeera reported. * US initial jobless claims fell to 203,000 in the week ended Aug. 22 from an upwardly revised 207,000 in the previous week, in contrast with expectations for an increase to 208,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. * October West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $1.44 to settle at $83.67 per barrel, while October Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.90 at $89.74. * Salesforce (CRM) shares were up roughly 23%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Dow, after the company reported higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue, and lifted its fiscal 2027 outlook. * Hormel Foods (HRL) shares were down nearly 10%, the worst performer on the S&P 500, after the company lowered its fiscal 2026 sales outlook and reported mixed Q3 results with sales falling amid soft consumer demand.