U.S. stocks inched higher after firm readings on the jobs market and manufacturing activity provided investors with more upbeat signals from the U.S. economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 22 points, or 0.2%, to 13216 in midday trade. Dow industrials are on course for a seventh consecutive gain, the longest streak since an eight-session run ended in February.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 5 points, or 0.4%, to 1399 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 12 points, or 0.4%, to 3053.

Financial and industrial stocks were Thursday's biggest gainers. Technology stocks weren't far behind, as Apple briefly topped $600 for the first time. Utility stocks and consumer staples lagged.

Apple rose 0.3% after a Dutch court said Samsung Electronics can't pursue injunctions for patent infringement as long as Apple is willing to negotiate license agreements.

Among blue chips, Cisco Systems shares fell 1.8% after announcing plans to acquire NDS Group, a U.K.-based video software maker, in a $4 billion deal. Bank of America rose 2.6% and J.P. Morgan Chase rose 1.6% to lead blue chips on a percentage basis.

A raft of U.S. economic data buoyed investor sentiment. The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell by 14,000 last week, which was more than the 5,000 decline that was forecast. New claims are hovering around levels last seen four years ago.

Meanwhile, manufacturers from upstate New York down to Delaware are seeing better business conditions this month, according to separate reports released Thursday by the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Philadelphia.

"I think the data continues to be good. Claims are back to the lowest in nearly four years, and that's a continuation of the theme we've seen in recent months--marginally better jobs data continuing in the right direction," said Brian Lazorishak, portfolio manager at independent money manager Chase Investment Counsel. "The Philly and New York Fed reports were both good, and taken together, it's confirmation that things are gradually getting better, particularly in the jobs market."

The Empire State's business conditions index increased for the fourth consecutive month to 20.21 from 19.53 in February, beating expectations and rising to the highest reading in over a year. The Philadelphia Fed's index of general business activity within its area factory sector rose to 12.5 in March from 10.2 in February. It was the highest reading since April 2011.

U.S. wholesale prices increased in February at the fastest pace in five months. The producer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4%, but producer prices were up a more mild 0.2% without volatile energy and food components.

European markets mostly edged lower, with the Stoxx Europe 600 falling 0.1%. London's FTSE 100 Index declined 0.3% after Fitch Ratings cuts its outlook on the U.K. to negative, saying the country's financial flexibility was "very limited."

Asian bourses were mostly lower. China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%, but Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.7% on the way to the the highest close since July, and third consecutive gain.

Crude-oil futures fell 0.9% to $104.40 a barrel after media reports that the U.S. and U.K. will cooperate on releasing strategic oil reserves. Gold futures added 0.4% to $1,649.80 a troy ounce. The U.S. dollar lost ground against both the euro and the yen. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds fell to 2.265%.

In other corporate news, Scholastic's fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed as the popularity of "The Hunger Games" series aided the children's book publisher's sales and improved margins. Scholastic raised its full-year earnings estimate, and shares jumped 12%.

Guess slumped 11% as fiscal fourth-quarter revenue fell short of expectations, even as earnings were in line, and the apparel and accessories retailer provided first-quarter earnings and revenue outlooks well below current projections.

Capital One Financial said it plans to offer up to $1.25 billion worth of its common stock in a public sale to help fund its previously-announced acquisition of HSBC's U.S. credit card business. Shares rose 1.4%

Video conferencing technologies company Radvision, up 4.5%, agreed to be acquired by Avaya in a deal valued at $230 million.

Vera Bradley slid 9.4% after reporting fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that topped estimates, but provided a first-quarter earnings outlook that was below current projections.

Winnebago Industries reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter revenue and shares rose 18%.

-By Chris Dieterich, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2611; christopher.dieterich@dowjones.com