Stocks extended gains on Thursday after a plan was offered by global central banks to reintroduce dollar liquidity into the strained European banking system, overshadowing soft U.S. economic data.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 138.05 points, or 1.23 percent, to 11,384.78. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 13.91 points, or 1.17 percent, to 1,202.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 25.69 points, or 1.00 percent, to 2,598.24.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak)