US stocks turn positive despite disappointing data

The major US stock indices rose Thursday, turning positive after opening lower on weak data.

The US unemployment claims reached 1.877 million during the past week, higher than forecasts of 1.820 million.

The trade balance deficit rose 16.7% to $49.4 billion in April, also worse than estimates of $41.5 billion.

Otherwise, The European Central Bank decided to keep the interest rates unchanged, and extended the emergency bond-purchase program by €600 billion ($674 billion) to €1.35 trillion ($1.5 trillion).

As for stocks, Dow Jones rose 0.2% or 57 points to 26,327 as of 14:47 GMT, S&P 500 rose 1 point to 3,123 points, and Nasdaq rose 0.1 % or 5 points to 9,687.