NEW YORK, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks traded on an upbeat note Thursday as concerns over escalation of tensions in the Middle East were partly eased after President Donald Trump downplayed Iran's missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq.
At midday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 231.87 points, or 0.81 percent, to 28,976.96. The S&P 500 was up 19.47 points, or 0.60 percent, to 3,272.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 78.38 points, or 0.86 percent, to 9,207.62.
Apple shares advanced more than 2 percent around midday, leading the gainers in the Dow.
Of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors, technology climbed 1.14 percent at midday, outpacing the rest. Energy declined about 0.3 percent, becoming the worst-performing group.
Trump said on Wednesday that no casualties resulted from Iran's missiles strikes in Iraq on Tuesday, sending signals of de-escalation while threatening Tehran with fresh sanctions.
"No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties," Trump said in a televised address after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.
The president also showed his restraint in his remarks, saying that "Iran appears to be standing down," which is "a good thing" for all parties concerned.
A U.S. drone struck a convoy at Baghdad International Airport last Friday, killing Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, sparking outrage and revenge threats from Tehran.
The U.S. equities market has been volatile these days as Wall Street weighed possible forms of Iran's retaliation. Enditem
