U.S. stocks close up, halting three-day slide, after U.S. data signal strength in economy

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)
U.S. stocks ended modestly higher on Thursday, halting a three-day slide, after reports on jobless claims and manufacturing pointed to strength in the U.S. economy.
After rising as much as 144 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 45.33 points, or 0.4%, to 11,868.81, trimming its loss for the week so far to 2.6%.
The S&P 500 rose 3.94 points, or 0.3%, to 1,215.76, leaving it down 3.1% from last Friday's close.
The Nasdaq Composite gained nearly 2 points, or almost 0.1%, to 2,541.01, with the index off 4% for the not-yet-ended week.