NEW YORK - Wall Street stocks rose for a second straight session on Thursday amid conflicting signs on the prospects for more US stimulus, as data showed joblessness staying stubbornly high.The broad-based S&P 500 climbed 0.8 per cent to 3,446.83, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.5 per cent to 11,420.98.
The back-and-forth came as Labour Department data showed the level of new jobless benefit applications in the United States barely changed last week. O'Hare said the market has become more confident the US election will not be contested following recent polls showing challenger Joe Biden with a widening lead.