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

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U.S. stocks end with modest gains on economic data
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
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.