Stocks rose on Thursday as optimism stirred by retailers' better-than-expected monthly sales pointed to stabilization in consumer spending, pushing the Dow back into positive territory for the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 47.38 points, or 0.46 percent, to end unofficially at 10,444.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 4.18 points, or 0.37 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,122.97. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 11.63 points, or 0.51 percent, to close unofficially at 2,292.31.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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