Stocks opened higher on Thursday after a four-day losing streak as retailers posted better-than-expected August sales that helped offset more disappointing news from the labor market.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 30.46 points, or 0.33 percent, to 9,311.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 3.86 points, or 0.39 percent, to 998.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 7.31 points, or 0.37 percent, to 1,974.38.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

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