U.S. markets post gains

NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- U.S. markets rose Thursday despite a jump in first-time unemployment benefit claims.

The Labor Department said initial claims rose by 25,000 in the week ending April 23, reaching 429,000.

The Commerce Department added to mix announcing the first quarter economic growth came in at a lackluster 1.8 percent.

By close of trading on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average added 72.35 points, 0.57 percent, to 12,763.31. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 0.36 percent, 4.82 points, to 1,360.48. The Nasdaq composite index added 0.09 percent, 2.65, to 2,872.53.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,838 stocks advanced and 1,144 declined on a volume of 4 billion shares.

The benchmark 10-year treasury note rose 12/32 to yield 3.312 percent.

The euro rose to $1.4824 from Wednesday's $1.4794. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 81.51 yen from Wednesday's 82.04 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index added 1.63 percent, 157.90, to 9,849.74.

In London, the FTSE 100 index gained 0.03 percent, 1.74, to 6,069.90.