Stocks rose on low volume on Thursday as data showed improvement in housing and the job market a day ahead of the critical monthly payrolls figures.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 50.63 points, or 0.49 percent, to end unofficially at 10,320.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 9.81 points, or 0.91 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,090.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 23.17 points, or 1.06 percent, to close unofficially at 2,200.01.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)