Stocks bounced back at the open on Thursday after their worst day in three months as Italian bond yields came off levels seen as unsustainable, prompting bears to cover some short positions.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 138.96 points, or 1.18 percent, to 11,919.90. The S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 14.98 points, or 1.22 percent, to 1,244.08. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 29.85 points, or 1.14 percent, to 2,651.50.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)