U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, moving back to 2008 highs, after a jump in bank shares and further upbeat data on the labor market, though sharp gains in oil prices limited the advance.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 28.23 points, or 0.22 percent, to close unofficially at 12,980.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 8.41 points, or 0.62 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,374.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 22.08 points, or 0.74 percent, to end unofficially at 2,988.97.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)