Stocks rallied for a third consecutive day on Thursday, fueled by optimism over easing trade tensions and comments from a Federal Reserve governor. The S&P 500 surged 2 percent after initially pausing. While China denied ongoing trade talks, market sentiment improved following President Trump's conciliatory remarks and a Fed governor's indication that interest rate cuts aren't imminent unless economic indicators significantly worsen. The market remains volatile, reacting to snippets of information regarding tariffs and monetary policy amidst the ongoing trade war.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.