Stocks rose on Thursday after the European Central Bank launched fresh liquidity measures to help banks weather the euro zone's worsening debt crisis, easing one of the concerns that have overhung markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 42.23 points, or 0.39 percent, to 10,982.18. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 6.48 points, or 0.57 percent, to 1,150.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 22.05 points, or 0.90 percent, to 2,482.56.