Wall Street climbed on Thursday, with the Nasdaq adding 1 percent, after a report showing a rise in private-sector jobs and strong sales at U.S. retailers lifted optimism in the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 81.17 points, or 0.64 percent, to 12,707.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 11.32 points, or 0.85 percent, to 1,350.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 28.23 points, or 1.00 percent, to 2,862.25.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)