The S&P 500 joined the Dow and gave back earlier gains, ceding 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite fared the best with a 0.4% increase. Small caps on the Russell 2000 crumbled with a 0.4% drop. Volume was modestly higher on the Nasdaq exchange and incrementally higher on the New York Stock Exchange compared with Wednesday.

S&P 500 futures are up 0.4%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are adding 0.3%. Nasdaq 100 futures are gaining 0.5%. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 81 points, or 0.18%, to 44193,