Positive figures from China and Europe have sent US stocks higher on opening, a day after the Fed left anxious markets confused over its plans to reduce its stimulus program.
Ten minutes into trade on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 38.00 (0.26 per cent) at 14,935.55.
The broad-based S&P 500 added 8.56 (0.52 per cent) at 1,651.36, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 29.00 (0.81 per cent) to 3,628.78.
Investors got encouragement from the Markit PPI survey for the eurozone, which showed business activity had picked up sharply in August to a 26-month high.
“The upturn is being led by Germany, where growth accelerated again in August, driven in turn by rising domestic and export demand,” Markit chief economist Chris Williamson said.
“So far, the third quarter is shaping up to be the best… since the spring of 2011,” Williamson said, cautioning that the bloc was not yet entirely in the clear.
And HSBC’s PMI for China’s manufacturing sector jumped to 50.1 in August, up from July’s 11-month low of 47.7.