U.S. stock indices closed higher on Thursday after a spate of data and amid the earnings season for major corporations and banks, with American Express besting expectations in the first quarter and nudging Wall Street higher.
Earlier data from the world's larges economy showed U.S. unemployment claims rose past expectations last week, while the Philly manufacturing index fell more than expected in April, as the CB leading index rose more than expected in March. Finally, U.S. treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke at the Institute of International Finance Policy Summit, in Washington DC.
Mnuchin said that most of the revenue lost from tax cuts will be offset by upbeat growth, expressing the treasury in the final stages of putting the basis for reforming the U.S. tax code, but caution stayed in the markets amid escalation between the U.S. and North Korea and ahead of several elections in Europe, specially France.
Dow Jones rose 0.85%, or 174.22 points to 20,578.71, while Standard and Poor's 500 added 0.76%, or 17.67 points to 2,355.84. NASDAQ Composite climbed 0.93%, or 53.74 points to 5,916.78.
Gold futures due on June 15 shed 0.01% to $1,283.30 an ounce from the opening of $1,283.40, while the dollar index rose 0.06% to 99.80 from the opening of 99.74.
On another note, U.S. crude futures due on May 16 slid 0.34% to $50.27 a barrel from the opening of $50.44, while Brent crude futures due on June 15 gave up 0.06% to $52.90 a barrel from the opening of $52.93.