Stocks opened more than 1 percent higher on Thursday after Germany's lower house approved new powers for the euro zone's crisis fund and U.S. economic data was stronger than forecast.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 190.61 points, or 1.73 percent, at 11,201.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 18.10 points, or 1.57 percent, at 1,169.16. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 44.49 points, or 1.79 percent, at 2,536.07.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

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