DJIA Leaders & Laggards: UTX AIG

In an abbreviated session that ended at 1 p.m., the blue chip index gained 73.03 points to 11,288.54. Earlier in the day, the Dow hit an annual low of 11,157.21, and the index is trading at its lowest levels since August 2006.

The markets will be closed Friday for the Independence Day holiday.

Aerospace and defense stocks recovered in Thursday trading, and shares of UTX, the parent of Sikorsky Aircraft and Otis Elevator, gained $1.35, or 2.3 percent, to $61.05. The stock has traded at annual lows in recent days.

Aluminum maker Alcoa Inc., which will kick off the second-quarter earnings season with its report Tuesday, rose 67 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $32.78. Soleil Securities analyst Charles Bradford upgraded Alcoa stock to "Hold" from "Sell" due to its lower price.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., which set an annual low Tuesday, added 71 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $35.31.

Eight of the 30 Dow stocks finished the day in negative territory. Shares of insurer American International Group Inc. declined 51 cents to $26.24.

Chip maker Intel Corp. gave up 27 cents to $20.66. Semiconductor stocks traded lower Thursday after graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp. cut its second-quarter revenue forecast late Wednesday. Nvidia lowered its outlook because of weaker end markets, lower prices and delays for a new product.

Shares of AT&T Inc. fell 31 cents to $32.58, and set an 18-month low of $32.13.