New York, July 10 (DPA) US stocks edged up Thursday, led by financial shares, which were buoyed by a positive report on banking giant Goldman Sachs.

Bank of America suggested buying Goldman Sachs shares, helping financial firms close 1.4 percent higher on the day. Health companies fell after pharmaceutical giant Merck halted trials for a cholesterol drug.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 4.76 points, or 0.06 percent, to 8,183.17. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 3.12 points, or 0.35 percent, to 882.68. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained up 5.38 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,752.55.

The US currency dropped against the euro to 71.28 euro cents from 72.02 euro cents Wednesday. The dollar crept higher against the Japanese currency to 92.99 yen from 92.88 yen.