U.S. stocks open higher after ECB's announcement on interest rates

U.S. stocks opened higher Friday on pace for strong weekly gains, as investors continued to digest a decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) to keep its interest rates unchanged.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 18.60 points, or 0.09 percent, to 19,633.41. The S&P 500 rose 5.31 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,251.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 22.11 points, or 0.41 percent, to 5,439.47.

The Governing Council of the ECB Thursday decided that the interest rate on main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 0.00 percent, 0.25 percent and -0.40 percent, respectively.

ECB President Mario Draghi said Thursday that the central bank could increase the monthly purchases if needed and that there is still no firm end date for the stimulus program.

Meanwhile, the "Trump-rally" carried on since the Election Day as traders believed that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies might boost economic growth.

U.S. stocks rose for a fourth straight session Thursday, with all three major indices refreshing their closing records. Endi