Stocks rose on Thursday as a brokerage's upbeat view on U.S. banks drove a run-up in financials, while soaring prices of oil and other commodities lifted shares of natural resource companies.

Based on the latest available figures, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 73.66 points, or 0.85 percent, to close at 8,748.94. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 10.44 points, or 1.12 percent, to 942.20. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 24.10 points, or 1.32 percent, to 1,850.02.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)