U.S. stocks end with modest gains on economic data

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)
U.S. stocks ended slightly higher on Thursday as several reports cast a more favorable light on the global economy
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 26.34 points, or 0.2%, to 13,103.68
Shares of Procter & Gamble Co. rose 2.9%, leading gainers on the Dow after the consumer-products company reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 that exceeded estimates
The S&P 500 index  climbed 4.23 points, or 0.3%, to end at 1,412.98, with energy and health-care posting the biggest gains among its 10 major sectors
The Nasdaq Composite gained 4.42 points, or 0.2%, to 2,986.12.