US stocks rose on Thursday as a government report showed consumer prices were contained last month, boosting optimism the Federal Reserve would feel less pressure to raise interest rates aggressively.
Shares of banks and companies relatively sensitive to higher interest rates rose. Home builders stocks also gained.
On Nasdaq, Qualcomm Inc shares rose after Merrill Lynch raised its rating on the company. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 61.57 points, or 0.55 percent, at 11,271.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 6.53 points, or 0.50 percent, at 1,309.55. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 9.05 points, or 0.39 percent, at 2,320.89.