Wall Street continued to consolidate as investors awaited key employment reports, while trade war concerns eased despite ongoing threats from President Trump. In corporate news, Ralph Lauren surged the most in a year following an upbeat outlook, while Tapestry shares soared as Coach exceeded expectations. Philip Morris hit record highs, driven by strong demand for its Zyn nicotine pouches, while Honeywell shares fell amid activist pressure for a breakup. U.S. banks also reached new record highs. Across the Atlantic, the Bank of England cut interest rates, pushing UK shares to record levels. Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal posted its biggest jump since 2020 on strong earnings. In commodities, oil prices declined in choppy trade, gold's record rally paused, and iron ore rose due to concerns over Australian supply. Looking ahead, Aussie shares are expected to ease from record highs on Friday, while the Aussie dollar continues to climb as the U.S. dollar moderates.

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