U.S. stocks hit session highs on Thursday after data showed factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region rose in September to the highest level since June 2007.

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said its business activity index reached 14.1 in September versus 4.2 in August, while economists expected a rise to 8, according to a Reuters poll.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 42.92 points, or 0.44 percent, at 9,834.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 4.14 points, or 0.39 percent, at 1,072.90. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 6.61 points, or 0.31 percent, at 2,139.76.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)