U.S. stock markets rebounded for a second day Thursday following gains in Asia and flat stock performances in Europe.
The Labor Department said first-time jobless benefit claims rose by 13,000 in the week ended Saturday. It was the second weekly increase in 11 weeks. Investors were caught by surprise, however, as the consensus forecast called for a 12,000 decline in first-time claims.
In afternoon trading on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average added 159.43 points or 1.25 percent to 12,964.82.
The Nasdaq composite index rose 31.74 points or 1.05 percent to 3,048.20. The Standard and Poor's 500 index climbed 15.70 points or 1.15 percent to 1,384.41.
The 10-year treasury note fell 1/32 with yields rising to 2.046 percent.
The euro rose to $1.3196 from Wednesday's $1.3109. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 80.84 yen from 80.87 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index gained 0.7 percent, 66.05, to 9,524.79.
In London, the FTSE 100 index added 1.34 percent, 75.72, to 5,710.46.
