Stocks rose after the open on Thursday as higher profit from JPMorgan offset concern about Moody's threat to downgrade the United States' top credit rating if the federal debt ceiling is not raised.

A report showing a drop in new claims for U.S. jobless benefits last week also boosted stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 11.35 points, or 0.09 percent, at 12,502.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 3.36 points, or 0.25 percent, at 1,321.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 5.31 points, or 0.19 percent, at 2,802.23.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)