Stocks in the US ticked higher on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rising over 0.3% each to notch fresh record highs, driven by strong Alphabet earnings that boosted confidence in AI investments. Alphabet shares jumped nearly 2% after the company beat second-quarter expectations and raised its 2025 capital spending forecast by $10 billion, sparking gains in tech peers like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon. Tesla slid 8.8% after CEO Elon Musk warned of tough quarters ahead. The Dow lagged, falling more than 100 points, weighed down by an 8% drop in IBM on weak software revenue and a 3.7% decline in UnitedHealth as the insurer disclosed a DOJ investigation. Market attention was also drawn to President Trump’s unexpected visit to the Federal Reserve, as he escalated pressure on Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates. Trade developments remained in focus, with reported progress in talks with the EU, Japan, and South Korea—though Trump signaled tariffs wouldn’t drop below 15%.