Investing.com - U.S. stocks traded higher on Thursday even after technical snags closed the Nasdaq for nearly three hours, as investors applauded solid weekly jobless claims.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.44%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.86%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 1.08%.
Despite a nearly three-hour trading halt on the Nasdaq, stocks rose after investors digested European and Chinese manufacturing reports as well as solid weekly jobless claims in the U.S.
The Department of Labor reported earlier that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless claims in the U.S. last week rose by 13,000 to 336,000, slightly higher than forecasts for 330,000.
The number boosted stocks by fanning hopes for an improving economy.
Talk the Fed will also keep stimulus programs such as monthly asset purchases in place in the near future bolstered shares as did better-than-expected manufacturing data out of Europe and China.
London-based Markit Economics reported earlier that its flash euro zone manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 51.3 in August from a final reading of 50.3 in July.
Analysts were expecting the index to come in at 50.8.
The flash euro zone services PMI rose to a 24-month high of 51.0 from 49.8 in July, better than market calls for a 50.2 reading.
Elsewhere, a preliminary reading of China’s HSBC manufacturing PMI rose to a 4-month high of 50.1 in August from 47.7 in July.
Analysts were forecasting a 48.3 reading.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Alcoa, up 2.55%, Microsoft, up 2.44%, and Bank of America, up 1.60%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Hewlett-Packard, down 12.37% due to disappointing earnings, Johnson & Johnson, down 0.61%, and Verizon, down 0.51%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 1.16%, France's CAC 40 rose 1.10%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 1.36%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.88%.
On Thursday, markets will track U.S. initial jobless claims, manufacturing data and comments from Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher, who is due to appear in public.
On Friday, the U.S. will release data on new home sales.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.44%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.86%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 1.08%.
Despite a nearly three-hour trading halt on the Nasdaq, stocks rose after investors digested European and Chinese manufacturing reports as well as solid weekly jobless claims in the U.S.
The Department of Labor reported earlier that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless claims in the U.S. last week rose by 13,000 to 336,000, slightly higher than forecasts for 330,000.
The number boosted stocks by fanning hopes for an improving economy.
Talk the Fed will also keep stimulus programs such as monthly asset purchases in place in the near future bolstered shares as did better-than-expected manufacturing data out of Europe and China.
London-based Markit Economics reported earlier that its flash euro zone manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 51.3 in August from a final reading of 50.3 in July.
Analysts were expecting the index to come in at 50.8.
The flash euro zone services PMI rose to a 24-month high of 51.0 from 49.8 in July, better than market calls for a 50.2 reading.
Elsewhere, a preliminary reading of China’s HSBC manufacturing PMI rose to a 4-month high of 50.1 in August from 47.7 in July.
Analysts were forecasting a 48.3 reading.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Alcoa, up 2.55%, Microsoft, up 2.44%, and Bank of America, up 1.60%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Hewlett-Packard, down 12.37% due to disappointing earnings, Johnson & Johnson, down 0.61%, and Verizon, down 0.51%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 1.16%, France's CAC 40 rose 1.10%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 1.36%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.88%.
On Thursday, markets will track U.S. initial jobless claims, manufacturing data and comments from Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher, who is due to appear in public.
On Friday, the U.S. will release data on new home sales.