The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 37.11 points, or 0.39 percent, to 9,580.63. The broader Standard and Poor's 500 Index added 2.86 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1,030.98. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 3.3 points, or 0.01

per cent, to 2,024.43.

The US currency dropped against the euro to 69.7 euro cents from 70.16 euro cents on Wednesday and fell against the Japanese currency to 93.53 yen from 94.25 yen.