Shares of retailers and other consumer companies were higher as jobless claims fell and earnings were mostly upbeat.

Shares of Kraft Heinz gained more than 3% after the company reported earnings that beat analysts' expectations and raised its guidance. Kraft Heinz said higher grocery demand during the coronavirus pandemic is setting the food maker up to exceed sales expectations for next year.

Yum Brands reported a stronger third-quarter profit in part because of higher demand at its Taco Bell unit.

Anheuser-Busch InBev reported a 65% fall in third-quarter net profit -- missing market forecasts -- on revenue that also fell, and said that while it expects the second-half performance to be better than the first, markets remain volatile and uncertain.

Volkswagen, the world's biggest car maker by sales, reported a higher-than-expected profit while warning that rising coronavirus cases and fresh lockdowns are threatening the rebound.

Ford Motor shares rose after the company posted about $2.4 billion in earnings for the third quarter.

Dunkin' Brands said it is continuing to negotiate its possible sale to Arby's parent Inspire Brands, while closing hundreds of stores hit hard by altered customer behavior during the coronavirus pandemic.

Juul Labs has dropped its valuation to about $10 billion, down from $38 billion two years ago when tobacco giant Altria Group took a 35% stake, the company told employees. Once one of the country's most highly valued startups, Juul has been pummeled over the past two years by regulatory crackdowns, lawsuits and investigations into whether it marketed its products to teens.

A former Green Beret and his son can be extradited to Japan to face criminal charges that they helped former auto titan Carlos Ghosn flee that country last year hidden inside a musical-equipment box, the U.S. State Department ruled, according to court documents. A federal judge in Boston quickly ordered a stay on the extradition proceedings, however, after lawyers for Michael L. Taylor, 60 years old, and Peter M. Taylor, 27, filed an emergency petition Thursday morning, citing a report that the two were to be put on a plane to Japan at 1 p.m. ET Thursday. 


 Write to Amy Pessetto at amy.pessetto@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-29-20 1735ET