US Stocks Open with Slight Gains after Data

Stocks opened modestly higher on Thursday as a better-than-expected report on weekly initial jobless claims boosted confidence the economy was improving, although caution remained ahead of Friday’s employment report.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 58.66 points, or 0.38 percent, at 15,498.89. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX was up 5.36 points, or 0.31 percent, at 1,757.00. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 17.01 points, or 0.42 percent, at 4,028.56.

Source: Reuters