Stocks end higher on positive economic data
New York, NY, United States (AHN) – U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday boosted by a better than expected rise in the nonmanufacturing index, a 3.6 percent jump in productivity in 2010, rise in factory orders and decline in jobless benefits applications.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 20 points or 0.2 percent to 12,062 with Cisco Systems Inc., AT&T Inc., Bank of America Corp. as the top gainers.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3 points or 0.2 percent to close at 1,307 with cosmetics maker Estee Lauder as the bigger gainer for reporting higher-than-expected profit and sales for the second fiscal quarter.
The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 4 points or 0.2 percent to 2,754. Sears Holdings and Ross Stores were among the big gainers in the tech-heavy index.
Oil for March delivery declined by 21 cents closing at $90 a barrel.
Gold futures for April delivery rose $4 to settle at $1,336 an ounce.
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