New York--Wall Street stocks rose early Thursday, adding to gains from the prior session following a solid report on US retail sales.
About 35 minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 18,095.59, up 95.19 points (0.53 percent).
The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 8.85 (0.42 percent) to 2,114.05, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 23.23 (0.46 percent).
The three leading indices each jumped 1.2 percent or more Wednesday, snapping a four-day streak of flat or negative trade.
US retail sales in May rose 1.2 percent, according to Commerce Department data, better than the 1.1 percent gain projected by analysts.
European stocks rose sharply on the greater optimism about a deal to avert a Greek debt default.
Dow member Nike advanced 0.7 percent after announcing an eight-year deal to become the exclusive on-court apparel provider for the NBA.
Online retailer Amazon gained 1.1 percent despite news that European Union anti-trust officials are investigating the company's e-book distribution business.
Entertainment giant Twenty-First Century Fox fell 0.3 percent on a CNBC report that chief executive Rupert Murdoch plans to step down and hand the job to his son James.
Yoga apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica shed 2.1 percent following a securities filing that company founder Chip Wilson plans to sell his stake of about 14 percent of the company.
Oil company Hess advanced 5.7 percent on news it would sell 50 percent of its interest in midstream assets in the Bakken shale region to Global Infrastructure Partners, an investment group.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury dropped to 2.45 percent from 2.49 percent Wednesday, while the 30-year fell to 3.17 percent from 3.21 percent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.
AFP
