Most US stocks edged higher on Thursday, but a sharp fall in Oracle kept major indices in check even as bond yields softened, AP reported.The S&P 500 slipped 0.4 per cent in early trade, moving further away from its October record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 233 points, or 0.5 per cent, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.7 per cent, according to AP.Oracle was among the biggest drags on the market, sliding 14.5 per cent after its quarterly revenue growth of 14 per cent came in below expectations despite stronger-than-expected profit. Investors also questioned whether the company’s heavy spending on artificial intelligence (AI) will deliver the expected boost to productivity and earnings, AP said.Analysts cited concerns over how Oracle plans to fund its AI investments. Shares of Nvidia, another major player in the sector, dropped 2.8 per cent. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison said the company would maintain a “chip neutrality” stance and use “whatever chips our customers want to buy”, AP reported.A broad easing in Treasury yields helped support most stocks. The 10-year US Treasury yield fell to 4.10 per cent from 4.13 per cent on Wednesday after weekly jobless claims rose more than forecast, suggesting potential pressure in the labour market.Yields had already moderated after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year on Wednesday and signalled the possibility of further easing in 2026.Among gainers, Disney rose 2.1 per cent after OpenAI announced a three-year deal allowing it to use more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters for AI-generated short videos, alongside a $1-billion investment from the entertainment company.Elsewhere, Oxford Industries tumbled 15.1 per cent after warning that consumers were becoming “highly value-driven” and lowering its full-year revenue outlook. Vera Bradley fell 26 per cent on reporting a deeper-than-expected loss.In overseas trade, European indices were marginally higher after declines across most Asian markets. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9 per cent, weighed down by a drop in SoftBank Group shares.