US Equity Markets End Higher After Government Bond Yields Fall

04:10 PM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes ended higher Thursday amid a drop in government bond yields and after technology sector stocks pared losses. * The producer price index rose 1.3% last month from 0.5% in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. The print marked the strongest pace of advance since March 2022, and is more than double the 0.6% climb projected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. * US retail sales rose 0.8% in September, above the 0.3% gain expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and August's revised 1.3% gain, according to the US Commerce Department. * November West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.58 to settle at $97.67 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.33 at $105.73. Two cargo ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after being struck by unknown projectiles in separate incidents, CNN reported. * International Paper (IP) shares were up 6.8%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500, after the company confirmed that it is in talks with potential bidders about a possible sale of its EMEA Packaging unit. * Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares fell about 6.6%, the worst performer on the Nasdaq, after the company said it expects a delay in the inaugural launch of its reusable, medium-lift Neutron rocket to 2027.