US stocks close higher

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 556.21 points, or 1.08 percent, to 52,177.69. The S&P 500 added 25.12 points, or 0.33 percent, to 7,744.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 20.16 points, or 0.08 percent, to 26,713.03.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in the green, with health and materials leading the gainers by going up 1.84 percent and 1.71 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and technology led the laggards by losing 1.55 percent and 0.54 percent, respectively.