U.S. stocks close higher

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.24 percent to 48,578.72. The S&P 500 added 0.26 percent to 7,041.28. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.36 percent to 24,102.7.

Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with energy and real estate leading the gainers by going up 1.55 percent and 1.01 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, health and industrials led the laggards by dropping 0.77 percent and 0.49 percent, respectively.