NEW YORK: Wall Street stocks sprinted higher for a third straight session on Thursday following solid economic data and good earnings from Dow members Cisco and Walmart.
The gains came after US data showed better-than-expected housing construction and a dip in US jobless claims, contributing to positive investor sentiment following more benign US statements on trade the last couple of days.Walmart gained 1.4 per cent after reporting a jump in earnings following a 3.4 per cent gain in US comparable store sales in the first quarter.Cisco Systems surged 6.7 per cent after reporting better-than-expected profits and offering a bullish sales and profit forecast.