Wall St jumps on economy, earnings optimism

U.S. stocks opened sharply higher on Thursday following a string of stronger-than-expected quarterly corporate profits, a broker upgrade for General Electric Co (GE.N) and fresh signs that the economic slump is waning.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 93.34 points, or 1.03 percent, at 9,164.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) was up 12.72 points, or 1.30 percent, at 987.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 23.69 points, or 1.20 percent, at 1,991.45.