U.S. jobs, Japanese yen, Apple earnings

Demand for power and data centers has been taking the world by storm, and its not just the U.S. tech giants that are set to benefit, according to Goldman Sachs.

Europe is set see a pick up in demand and electricity consumption by as much as 50% in the next 10 years – reversing the slump it has been facing since 2008, the investment bank’s analysts noted.

The massive growth translates to an investment of nearly 800 euros ($857.5 billion) in Europe’s power transmission and distribution network, they added, naming stocks with over 30% upside potential on their radar.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Amala Balakrishner

European companies are more cash-rich than they’ve been in recent history.

Companies in the Stoxx 600 index have nearly 1.5 trillion euros ($1.6 trillion) in cash on their balance sheets — that’s 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to Goldman Sachs.

And the dividend yield differential between Europe and the U.S. is the narrowest it’s ever been, making Europe more appealing, according to Goldman Sachs. “In other words, Europe has rarely looked cheaper on an absolute and relative basis,” it said.

CNBC Pro takes a look at some stocks that turned up on Goldman’s screen of high dividend yield names. They are companies in the Stoxx Europe 600 with the highest 12-month forward dividend yields in each sector.

Subscribers can read more here.

— Weizhen Tan

The major averages posted gains on Thursday, with the S&P 500 jumping 0.91% to close at 5,064.20. The Nasdaq Composite surged 1.51% to end at 15,840.96, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 322.37 points, or 0.85%, to close at 38,225.66.

It was the first positive day in three for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq.

— Darla Mercado

The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) hit an intraday all-time high again on Thursday as the rally for stocks tied to the country continues.

Morgan Stanley strategist Ridham Desai said in a note to clients Thursday that the India bull market could continue for several more years.

“This is set to be India’s longest and best bull market ever,” Desai’s note said.

Read more about the iShares fund and the market outlook for India on CNBC Pro.

— Jesse Pound

The first-quarter earnings season is nearing its end. As of Thursday morning, three-quarters of the S&P 500, or 373 companies, have reported results.

So far, 77% of companies have topped earnings expectations, while 61% have surpassed revenue estimates, according to LSEG data. Based on the blended growth rate, companies are on pace to report 6.9% earnings growth year over year and 3.6% revenue growth.

Communications technology is expected to see the most significant quarterly earnings growth at nearly 44% year over year. Earnings for the health-care and energy sectors are expected to decline more than 24% each from a year ago.

— Samantha Subin, Robert Hum