US stocks gained in opening trade Thursday helped by a weekly jobless claims number that confirmed the improving trend in the labor market.
Markets also were encouraged by Italy\'s having pulled off another bond auction at high but not disastrous rates.
Ten minutes into trade the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 62.97 points (0.52 percent) at 12,214.38.
The broader S&P 500 added 5.41 (0.43 percent) to 1,255.05, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 6.26 (0.24 percent) to 2,596.24.
Initial jobless claims climbed to 381,000 in the week ending December 24, up from 366,000 the previous week, but the four-week moving average fell to 375,000, a level last seen in June 2008.
"Despite the uptick in initial claims, the US labor market continues to show signs of gradual improvement," said Robert Kavic of BMO Capital Markets.
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