US stock indices rose on Thursday following positive data, which the corporate earnings results season launches.

Earlier data showed US retail sales up 0.4% m/m in September, beating estimates of a 0.3% rise.

Other data showed unemployment claims fell by 19 thousand to 241 thousand in the week ending October 2, while analysts expected 260 thousand.

On trading, Dow Jones rose 0.4% as of 16:40 GMT, or 164 points to 43,241 points, while SP 500 rose 0.3%, or 20 points to 5862, as NASDAQ shed 0.5%, or 101 points to 18,470.