US equity indexes ended higher Thursday as government bond yields dropped after the Federal Reserve reaffirmed plans to tame inflation and amid a decline in crude oil prices.

* China has privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen's Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the Iran-backed group's military blitz in the past week, Reuters reported, citing three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.

* In the week ended Sept. 12, 196,000 people filed for unemployment insurance, down 10,000 from the prior week. The consensus was 207,000, according to a Jefferies note.

* October West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.19 to settle at $101.24 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.72 at $104.11.

* Generac (GNRC) shares rose roughly 18%, the top gainer on the S&P 500, a day after signing a long-term supply deal with Amazon (AMZN) to provide backup power generators. Canaccord Genuity also raised its price target on the company while keeping its buy rating.

* Paramount Skydance (PSKY) will meet with the Writers Guild of America and state attorneys general who are seeking to block its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for a two-day, court-mandated settlement conference starting Oct. 14, according to media reports citing a court filing Wednesday. Paramount Skydance shares fell about 4.6%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500.