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A small drop in unemployment claims and a higher profit forecast by FedEx Corp. helped push stocks up Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at their highest levels of the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 41.78, or 0.4 percent, to 11,499.25.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 7.64, or 0.6 percent, to 1,242.87.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 20.09, or 0.8, to 2,637.31.

For the week:

The Dow is up 88.93, or 0.8 percent.

The S&P is up 2.47, or 0.2 percent.

The Nasdaq is down 0.23, or 0.01 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is up 1,071.20, or 10.3 percent.

The S&P is up 127.77, or 11.5 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 368.16, or 16.2 percent.

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Strong retail sales and a healthy reading on the housing market helped stocks start December with a two-day winning streak. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 106 points. Combined with a 249-point gain Wednesday, the Dow has had its best two-day run since July 7-8.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 106.63, or 1 percent, to close at 11,362.41.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 15.46, or 1.3 percent, to 1,221.53.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 29.92, or 1.2 percent, to 2,579.35.

For the week:

The Dow is up 270.41, or 2.4 percent.

The S&P is up 32.13, or 2.7 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 44.79, or 1.8 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is up 934.36, or 9.0 percent.

The S&P is up 106.43, or 9.5 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 310.20, or 13.7 percent.

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The Federal Reserve wanted to push interest rates lower and jump-start financial markets with its $600 billion economic stimulus plan. So far the Fed is getting the results it wants. Long-term interest rates sank and stocks indexes hit new highs Thursday, a day after the Fed announced its massive bond-buying plan. The Dow Jones industrial average soared more than 220 points, reaching another high for the year. All three main stock indexes have now reached 2010 highs this week.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 219.71, or 2.0 percent, to 11,434.84.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 23.10, or 1.9 percent, to 1,221.06.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 37.07, or 1.5 percent to 2,577.34.

For the week:

The Dow is up 316.35, or 2.8 percent.

The S&P is up 37.80, or 3.2 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 69.93, or 2.8 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is up 1,006.79, or 9.7 percent.

The S&P is up 105.96, or 9.5 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 308.19, or 13.6 percent.

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NEW YORK – Stocks struggled to a mixed finish Thursday after weak earnings news from 3M and other companies weighed on the market. The market had risen steadily in the opening moments of trading following a surprise drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits, but traded sideways for much of the rest of the day.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 12.33, or 0.1 percent, to close at 11,113.95.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.33 point, or 0.1 percent, to 1,183.78.

The Nasdaq composite index 4.11, or 0.2 percent, to 2,507.37.

For the week:

The Dow is down 18.61, or 0.2 percent.

The S&P is up 0.66, or 0.06 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 27.98, or 1.1 percent.

For the year:

The Dow is up 685.90, or 6.6 percent.

The S&P is up 68.64, or 6.2 percent.

The Nasdaq is up 238.22, or 10.5 percent.

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