U.S. stocks traded higher at midday Thursday, with the Dow Jones rising 1.17% to 53,683.85, the Nasdaq gaining 1.34% to 26,569.28 and the S&P 500 advancing 0.99% to 7,742.73. Communications services led sector gains, while materials declined. The ISM services PMI climbed to 55.4 in August from 54.1, marking the strongest services-activity growth in six months and exceeding the 54.3 market estimate. Mint Incorporation shares jumped 60% after the company announced a consulting agreement with CURRENC Capital to tokenize part of its Class A ordinary shares on Ethereum and Solana. Snowflake and Tillys also rallied on quarterly results, while Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Polestar Automotive and Methode Electronics fell. Oil, gold, silver and copper rose, European shares were mostly higher and Asian markets mostly declined. U.S. data showed higher jobless claims and trade deficit, alongside stronger productivity and services activity.