Stocks Surge on Materials, Energy

(TheStreet) -- Stocks rallied Thursday on strength across agricultural and energy shares despite disappointing initial jobless claims. After six consecutive losing sessions, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up by 124 points, or 1%, at 12,173. The S&P 500 was higher by 13 points, or 1%, at 1293, and the Nasdaq was ahead by 14 points, or 0.5%, at 2689. Shares of fertilizer companies surged after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its estimate of corn industries, according to a Bloomberg report. CF Industries CF, Mosaic MOS and Potash (POT) were each up by roughly 4%. Continue reading the article.