Stocks briefly added to gains on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected reading on manufacturing in the Mid-Atlantic region and a gauge of economic health rose for an eighth straight month.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> advanced 119.85 points, or 1.03 percent, to 11,733.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 15.60 points, or 1.24 percent, to 1,272.48. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 29.45 points, or 1.13 percent, to 2,646.27.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak)