Update: US Equities Rise Intraday in Tech-Led Advance as Oil Prices Ease

(Updates with latest market prices and developments.) US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday as the technology sector advanced led by chip-related stocks, while oil prices retreated. The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.2% at 26,172.9 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,541.2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to 52,508.8. Among sectors, tech paced the gainers, up 1.9%, while consumer staples saw the steepest decline. Micron Technology's shares (MU) were up 7.8% intraday, the third-top gainer on the S&P 500. The company said Thursday it plans to invest up to $3 billion in the US semiconductor supply chain. Other chipmakers also advanced, including ON Semiconductor (ON), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Intel (INTC). West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.2% at $71.94 per barrel intraday, while Brent dropped 2.4% to $76.16. The US launched fresh strikes Thursday on Iran, CNN reported, citing Iran's state news agency, IRNA. The US Central Command said Wednesday its forces completed another round of strikes against Iran, having struck Tehran earlier in the week after it attacked three tankers that crossed the.