US Equity Markets End Higher as Expectations Build for Fed to Keep Rates Steady

US equity indexes ended higher Thursday in a broad-based rally amid rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged.

* Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he would be "inclined to support" holding rates steady at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting in September if August inflation data shows progress toward the central bank's 2% goal.

* The probability of the Fed raising its target rate by 25 basis points to 3.75% to 4.0% in September fell to 50.4% from 63.2% a day ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

* Initial jobless claims last week rose to 206,000 from an upwardly revised 204,000, compared with expectations for an increase to 205,000 in a Bloomberg survey.

* October West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $0.57 to settle at $91.58 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.07 at $95.70.

* Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and PwC expanded their alliance to help enterprises deploy AI tools across critical business operations. Palantir shares rose 7.7%, the second-biggest gain on the Nasdaq.

* Ciena (CIEN) shares fell 10%, the largest decline on the S&P 500, even after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal Q3 results.