Technology rally leads Nasdaq to record high

with Comcast, Comcast and Disney are also trying to buy Fox itself. Fox recently accepted Disney’s $71 billion offer. The New York Times reported Thursday that Comcast will focus on Sky and end its pursuit of Fox.

Sky’s stock rose 3.4 percent in London. In the U.S., Comcast rose 2.3 percent to $34.55 and Fox fell 0.9 percent to $47.38. Disney gained 0.2 percent to $108.25.

CVS Health rose 1 percent to $67.99 and Aetna gained 1.9 percent to $191.09 after Bloomberg News reported that the Department of Justice won’t try to stop CVS from buying Aetna. AT&T fell 1.3 percent in aftermarket trading after the Justice Department appealed a court ruling that allowed AT&T to buy Time Warner.

Papa John’s International jumped 11 percent to $53.67 as founder John Schnatter resigned as chairman after confirming a report that he had used a racial slur during a conference call in May.

Stifel analyst Christopher Cull said Wall Street has viewed the company as a potential sale target for some time, and investors feel that’s more likely without Mr. Schnatter in charge. Since Mr. Schnatter is still is largest shareholder, Mr. Cull doesn’t think that will happen.

Mr. Schnatter owns about 29 percent of the company’s stock, and the value of his stake jumped by $50.5 million to about $507 million in total.

Stocks around the world slumped Wednesday after the Trump administration released a list of $200 billion in imports from China that it could hit with a 10 percent tax.

China said it would retaliate if the tariffs take effect, and the dispute could impair global economic growth.