U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as investors viewed earnings and favorable brokerage comments on companies and some economic data as signs that an economic rebound will continue.

But Wal-Mart put a lid on gains as its stock slid 1.5 percent to $53.27. The world's largest retailer forecast results for the current quarter that could miss Wall Street's estimates, hinting at weak consumer spending.

Hewlett-Packard Co's stock rose after a number of brokerages raised their price targets for the technology company. HP jumped 1.1 percent to $50.65 a day it raised its outlook and posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit.

Government reports showing a surprise increase in weekly jobless claims and higher producer prices in January were more than offset by data showing gains in mid-Atlantic manufacturing activity and a 10th straight monthly rise in the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators.

News on the economy was mixed, said Jim Awad, managing director at Zephyr Management New York. There's a tug of war, with a slight upward bias based on a moderate cyclical recovery on the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 77.01 points, or 0.75 percent, to 10,386.25. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 6.85 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,106.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 12.74 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,239.03.

Shares of natural resources companies, including miners, were among the biggest gainers, followed by major manufacturers. The S&P materials index <.GSPM> jumped 1.2 percent. Aircraft maker Boeing Co rose 1.6 percent to $62.82.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc shares rose 8.3 percent to $51.31 a day after the iron ore and coal producer's quarterly earnings easily beat Wall Street estimates.

On Nasdaq, shares of online travel agency Priceline.com Inc

jumped 01.6 percent to $235.40 a day after the company posted fourth-quarter earnings that topped expectations on a sharp jump in bookings.

But health insurers, as measured by the Morgan Stanley healthcare payor index <.HMO>, dropped 1.5 percent. The Obama administration ratcheted up pressure on health insurers in a fresh push for reform, saying some firms planned double-digit rate increases while earning billions in profits and paying their bosses multimillion-dollar salaries.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

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