NEW YORK - U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday as reports on economic growth and jobless claims came in roughly as forecast, while shares of Best Buy jumped about 12 percent after its results beat expectations.
· Final Q4 GDP, initial jobless claims roughly in line.
· The Dow Jones industrial average gained 60.06 points, or 0.77 percent, to 7,809.87. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 8.50 points, or 1.04 percent, to 822.38. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 23.43 points, or 1.53 percent, to 1,552.38.