U.S. stocks were higher, with the Dow on pace for another record close, though equities were off their best levels of the session in afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.3%, near 43,208, after setting an intraday high of 43,289.76, according to FactSet Data.

The S&P 500 is on track to report 7% year-per-year earnings growth for the third quarter, according to estimates from FactSet.

Shares mostly advanced in Asia on Thursday after U.S. stocks rose following better-than-expected profit reports from Morgan Stanley, United Airlines and other big companies. Chinese markets fell back after officials in Beijing announced the government was expanding financing for housing projects to try to turn around a slump in the property market triggered by a crackdown on excessive borrowing by developers.