U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after surprisingly strong March retail sales boosted optimism the economic recovery is on track.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 29.55 points, or 0.27 percent, to finish unofficially at 10,927.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 3.99 points, or 0.34 percent, to close unofficially at 1,186.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 5.65 points, or 0.23 percent, to end unofficially at 2,436.81.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)

Retail