US stocks rallied on Thursday as oil prices slipped and better-than-expected economic data raised expectations of a strong US employment report on Friday.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 181.41 points or 1.5 per cent to 12,248.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 20.24 points or 1.55 per cent to 1,328.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 50.93 points or 1.85 per cent to 2,799.

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