U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday, building on gains in the prior session after the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy statement and as oil prices showed signs of steadying.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 130.04 points, or 0.75 percent, to 17,486.91, the S&P 500 gained 16.03 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,028.92 and the Nasdaq Composite added 63.20 points, or 1.36 percent, to 4,707.51.