US stocks close higher on strong economic data

NEW YORK (AFP) - United States (US) stocks closed solidly higher on Thursday after US data pointed to an improving employment and housing picture.

In closing trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 84.79 points (0.63
per cent) to 13,596.02.

The broad-based Standard & Poor's 500 increased 8.31 points (0.56 per cent) to 1,480.94.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 18.46 points (0.59 per cent) to
3,136.0.