US stocks closed higher for a third straight session as a strong start to earnings outweighed lingering US China trade uncertainty. The Dow rose 240 points to a record high while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished marginally higher as a string of beat-and-raise results drove gains. General Motors jumped 16% after raising guidance, Coca-Cola rallied 3.8% on steady beverage demand and benefits from its India bottling deal, and 3M rose 6.3% after topping estimates. Defense and aerospace names outperformed with GE Aerospace up 1.3% and Raytheon up 8.2% on resilient orders and reassurances over critical minerals supply. Danaher climbed 6.6% after beating Q3 revenue and earnings expectations, while Warner Bros Discovery surged 13.7% on reports it is exploring a sale. More than three quarters of companies reporting so far have beaten estimates, which underpinned the rally, though next Friday’s CPI print and the unresolved US data blackout remain the key risks for markets.