Nasdaq trading halts; stocks up on positive data

NEW YORK • The stock market rose Thursday but trading on the Nasdaq was interrupted by a technical glitch just after midday.

Encouraging economic figures from Asia and Europe helped stocks advance and broke a six-day losing streak for the Dow Jones industrial average.

Nasdaq sent out an alert to traders at 12:14 p.m. EDT saying that trading was being halted until further notice because of problems with a quote dissemination system. The exchange said it wouldn't be canceling any open orders.

The Nasdaq composite was up about 34 points, or 1 percent, at 3,634 when trading halted. Trading continued on other exchanges.

In China, a survey by HSBC indicated that manufacturing was expanding, the latest evidence that the world's second-largest economy may be over its recent period of weakness. In Europe, a survey of manufacturing and services for the 17 countries that use the euro climbed to its highest level since June 2011. Stocks were held back by some disappointing results from retail companies.

"Europe seems to be getting its swing back, especially Germany," said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management. The figures "are not super exciting, but directionally they are good."

The stock market has had a poor August as traders and investors fretted that the Federal Reserve is poised to start easing back on the economic stimulus that has helped underpin a 4 ½-year bull market. The U.S. central bank is buying $85 billion of bonds a month to hold down long-term interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 54 points, or 0.3 percent, to 14,951 as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The index is still down 3.6 percent for the month. The S&P 500 has dropped 1.9 percent in August and is trading close to its lowest in six weeks.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,654. The S&P is on track for its best day since Aug. 1.

Investors also got some encouraging news on the U.S. economy Thursday.

A gauge of the U.S. economy's health rose in July, pointing to stronger growth in the second half of the year. The Conference Board's index of leading indicators increased 0.6 percent last month to a reading of 96. The index was unchanged in June and rose 0.2 percent in May.

"The economy in general is showing signs of modest improvement," said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist, at U.S. Bank wealth management. "Valuation is fair, sentiment is favorable and inflation is benign and that's a favorable backdrop for equities."

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remains close to its lowest level in 5 ½ years.

Applications for first-time benefits rose 13,000 to 336,000 in the week ending Aug. 17, the Labor Department said. That's up from 323,000 in the previous week, which was the lowest since Jan. 2008.

The market rose despite some poor results from a pair of retailing companies.

Sears dropped $3.59, or 8.3 percent, to $39.60 after the company said its second-quarter loss widened as the number of stores in operation declined and the company dealt with lingering effects from its spinoff of the Hometown and Outlet brand. Abercrombie & Fitch fell $8.54, or 18 percent, to $38.27 after the company said that declining traffic and weakness in girls' clothing pushed its net income down 33 percent in the second quarter.

In commodities trading, the price of oil rose 45 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $104.30 a barrel. Gold gained $4.30, or 0.3 percent, to $1,374.20 an ounce.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.90 percent from 2.89 percent Wednesday. The yield is the highest it's been since July 2011, and is up sharply since going as low as 1.63 percent in early May.

Rising bond yields have unsettled stock investors because they have a direct impact on the cost of borrowing for everyone, from home owners trying to refinance their mortgages to companies trying to sell deb, making them a potential long-term drag on the economy.

Average U.S. rates for fixed mortgages rose this week to their highest levels in two years, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on the 30-year loan jumped to 4.58 percent, up from 4.40 percent last week.

The dollar was little changed against the euro and rose against the Japanese yen.

Among other stocks making big moves:

— Hewlett-Packard fell $3.38, or 13 percent, to $22 after the company reported weak demand for personal computers and falling revenue late Wednesday. The company's earnings were below Wall Street's expectations.

—Dollar Tree rose 60 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $52.45 after the company reported earnings that surpassed the expectations of Wall Street analysts. The company also raised the lower end of its full-year earnings forecast.

— GameStop, a video game retailer, surged $5.38, or 11 percent, to $52.96 after the company posted earnings that beat analysts' expectations and raised its outlook for full-year earnings.