U.S. stocks close higher

NEW YORK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 371.98 points, or 1.17 percent, to 32,246.55. The S&P 500 added 68.35 points, or 1.76 percent, to 3,960.28. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 283.22 points, or 2.48 percent, to 11,717.28.