U.S. stocks open higher amid data

U.S. stocks opened higher amid economic data on Thursday, as investors were still digesting Federal Reserve's statement and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's remarks made Wednesday afternoon.

The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers increased 0.4 percent in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, slightly below market consensus, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May, its smallest increase since December.

In a separate report, the Labor Department announced the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 267,000 in the week ending June 13, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 279,000.

The Fed signaled Wednesday that it was on track to raise the benchmark interest rate this year despite the lower-than-expected economic outlook.

However, Yellen stressed that the importance of the initial increase should not be overstated, adding that the stance of monetary policy will likely remain highly accommodative for quite some time after the first interest rate hike.

Overseas, Finance ministers of euro zone countries gathered here Thursday amid dimming hope to clinch a deal for Greece to avoid a default and Grexit.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 103.73 points, or 0.58 percent, to 18,039.47. The S&P 500 gained 8.22 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,108.66. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 24.11 points, or 0.48 percent, to 5,088.99. Endi