How the Dow Jones industrial average and other major indexes fared on Thursday

U.S. stocks closed slightly higher on Thursday, shaking off two days of losses. Separate government reports indicating a steep drop in weekly applications for unemployment benefits and a pickup in U.S. factory orders helped lift the market. Consumer discretionary stocks were among the biggest risers. U.S. stock trading will be closed Friday for Good Friday.

On Thursday:

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 65.06 points, or 0.4 percent, to 17,763.24.

The S&P 500 index gained 7.27 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,066.96.

The Nasdaq composite added 6.71 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,886.94.

For the week:

The Dow is up 50.58 points, or 0.3 percent.

The Nasdaq is down 4.28 points, or 0.1 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is down 59.83 points, or 0.3 percent.

The S&P 500 index is up 8.06 points, or 0.4 percent.