U.S. stocks open with gains

U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday as oil prices rebounded from sharp Wednesday drop.

Light, sweet crude for March delivery gained 0.86 U.S dollar to 49.31 dollars in the early trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Energy sector rose 1.38 percent shortly after the opening bell.

The U.S. trade deficit for December is widened sharply, as the U.S. Commerce Department announced on Thursday the trade deficit jumped to 46.6 billion dollars, up 6.8 billion dollars from 39.8 billion dollars in November.

December exports were 194.9 billion dollars, while imports were 241.4 billion dollars. But analysts said the import number suggested that demand is moderately healthy.

Investors were ponding the job market is still robust as the initial job claims were lower-than-expected. In the week ending January 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 278,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised level, said the U.S. Labor Department Thursday.

The four-week moving average was 292,750, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average.

Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant, agreed to buy Hospira, which makes injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Hospira shareholders will receive 90 dollars a share in cash, representing a premium of 39 percent to Wednesday's closing price. Shares of Pfizer jumped 3.4 percent in the early trading.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 89.97 points, or 0.51 percent, to 17,762.99. The S&P 500 gained 10.07 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,051.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 16.49 points, or 0.35 percent, to 4,733.19.

U.S stocks were slightly mixed amid generally upbeat earnings Wednesday, as oil prices plummeted on record-high stockpiles after a four-day winning streak of nearly 20 percent. Endi