US stocks rose on Thursday, with gains in beaten-down technology shares helping the Nasdaq. A brokerage upgrade of phone company AT&T Inc added to the positive tone, offsetting weakness in economic data.
Apple Computer Inc, up 3.4 percent at $61.81, was the biggest positive influence on the Nasdaq. Limiting the Dow industrials' gains were shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, down 0.7 percent at $48.09. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 38.98 points, or 0.35 percent, at 11,207.29. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 7.37 points, or 0.58 percent, at 1,277.46. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 15.30 points, or 0.70 percent, at 2,194.18.