LIVE MARKETS-S&P 500, Nasdaq end higher; Philip Morris lifts Staples

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S&P 500, NASDAQ END HIGHER; PHILIP MORRIS LIFTS STAPLES

The S&P 500 .SPX and Nasdaq .IXIC ended higher on Thursday after upbeat earnings results and forecast from companies including Philip Morris International PM.N and Eli Lilly LLY.N.

Both were among stocks giving the S&P 500 its biggest boosts of the day.

Also, S&P 500 financials .SPSY and the S&P 500 banks index .SPXBK registered record closing highs.

Philip Morris' stock jumped 10.9% on Thursday after the cigarette company forecast better-than-expected profit growth for 2025. It also helped to lift the S&P 500 consumer staples .SPLRCS index, which led gains among sectors.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly LLY.N rose after the company forecast annual profit largely above estimates. The stock closed up 3.3%.

Nvidia NVDA.O and other megacap names also rose, while shares of Honeywell International HON.N fell 5.6% after a disappointing forecast and after the industrial and aerospace giant said it would split into three independently listed companies. The Dow .DJI ended lower.

The majority of S&P 500 companies are beating analysts' expectations on earnings.

Here is the closing market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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