Stocks rose on Thursday as better-than-expected earnings from Wal-Mart Stores Inc helped offset disappointing government numbers on retail sales and jobs.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 35.90 points, or 0.38 percent, at 9,397.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 6.91 points, or 0.69 percent, at 1,012.72. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 10.63 points, or 0.53 percent, at 2,009.35.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Retail sales Walmart