NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 115.01 points, or 0.23%, to close at 49,711.98 on Thursday, extending its recent winning streak as robust corporate earnings and sustained enthusiasm for artificial intelligence continued to support investor sentiment on Wall Street. The blue-chip index has now advanced for four consecutive sessions, reclaiming ground lost during earlier volatility tied to geopolitical developments and interest rate uncertainty.

The modest gain pushed the Dow closer to the psychologically significant 50,000 level, a milestone it briefly flirted with earlier this month. Investors appeared encouraged by another round of mostly positive earnings reports from major companies, particularly in technology, industrials and financial services. The broader S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also finished higher, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading gains on continued strength in AI-related names.

Earnings Season Delivers Positive Surprises

Several Dow components reported results that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Caterpillar, a key industrial bellwether, posted better-than-forecast earnings and raised guidance, citing resilient global infrastructure spending. Financial giants including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase also delivered solid numbers, reflecting steady loan demand and strong investment banking activity despite higher interest rates.

Technology and AI plays remained standout performers. Nvidia and other semiconductor names extended gains as demand........

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