Wall Street opens higher as investors digest economic data

U.S. stocks opened higher Thursday as investors weighed earnings from big banks and economic data.

The S&P 500 rose 7 points, or 0.3%, to 2,001, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 18 points, or 0.1%, to 16,942. The Nasdaq Composite added 26 points, or 0.6%, to 4,809.

Earlier, data showed first-time claims for U.S. jobless benefits matched the lowest level since 1973. Separately, data showed the consumer price index fell by 0.2% in September.