U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as strong corporate earnings and outlook boosted optimism about the pace of the economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 22.25 points, or 0.18 percent, at 12,475.79. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 5.82 points, or 0.44 percent, at 1,336.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 15.76 points, or 0.56 percent, at 2,818.27.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)