U.S. stocks surged midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining over 200 points on Thursday. The Dow rose by 0.44% to 48,097.08, the NASDAQ jumped 1.08% to 22,938.56, and the S&P 500 climbed 0.76% to 6,772.76. Consumer discretionary shares increased by 2%, while energy stocks dropped by 0.5%. U.S. inflation cooled more than anticipated in November, with the Consumer Price Index rising 2.7% year over year, below economists' expectations of 3.1%. The report indicating declining price pressures eased investors' concerns, boosting confidence in the Federal Reserve's easing strategy. Athira Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: ATHA) saw its shares surge by 84% to $7.62 following a company announcement.