Wall Street shrugs off data to edge up at open

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.00 points to 12,517.15.

U.S. stocks edged up at the open on Thursday as investors brushed off tepid economic data and focused on buying beaten-down shares after a drop of more than 5 percent for the S&P 500 this month.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.00 points, or 0.17%, to 12,517.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 2.88 points, or 0.22%, to 1,321.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 5.25 points, or 0.18%, to 2,855.37.