US stocks ended the session higher on Thursday. Investors focused on the bright corporate outlook and ignored weak economic data on inflation and new jobless claims.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 29.82 points or 0.24 per cent to 12,317.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 4.07 points or 0.3 per cent at 1,340.39. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 6.02 points or 0.21 per cent at 2,831.58.